News

Flying high
November 20, 2006 — MORE

Col. Steven Harrison, 437th Airlift Wing vice commander, and Lt. Col. Todd Hackett, 437th Mission Support Group deputy commander, check out the newly painted plane at the Aero Club Tuesday. The Charleston Aero Club is one of the first in Air Mobility Command to have one of their planes painted. The Aero Club partnered with the Air Force Recruiting Service to paint the aircraft. The club received $55,000 from the recruiting service to paint five aircraft. The second Charleston Aero Club aircraft is presently undergoing repainting. To schedule a flight in the newly repainted plane contact the Aero Club at 963-5152. (U.S. Photo by Staff Sgt. Marie Cassetty) (RELEASED)

Team Charleston urged to be safe for the holidays, winter
November 20, 2006 — Winter doesn't officially begin until December 21st. However, wintry weather is already here for many of us and fast approaching for others. The cold, icy conditions lead to increased hazards and typically results in spikes in our accidents, injuries and deaths. To keep ourselves and our loved ones safe this season, we need to apply the principles... MORE

Education center hosts annual education fair
November 3, 2006 — The Charleston AFB Education and Training Center here, is hosting its annual Education Fair 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 8 at the education center. Participating schools include Embry-Riddle, American Military, Trident Tech, Park, Southern Illinois, South Carolina and many more. The education fair allows military members, dependents and other guests to... MORE

CFC makes all the difference
November 3, 2006 — Many people don't give much thought to Friday the 13th these days but for one Team Charleston family it's the day they received some terrible news. May 13, 2005, Tech. Sgt. David Dick, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics lead technician, and his family learned that his youngest daughter, Krista, was diagnosed with leukemia, a cancer of the... MORE

Krista Dick (front), daughter of Tech. Sgt. David Dick, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, poses with her family at Disney World while on a Make-A-Wish foundation trip.

Aeromedical, C-17, critical care transport teams work together seamlessly to save Marine's sight
November 3, 2006 — It was a terrible scenario. A suicide bomber attack in Fallujah, Iraq, had injured a 21-year-old Marine. He suffered multiple burns to his face and hands, and blast injuries to his right arm with shrapnel embedded in his leg. But the worst part was shrapnel in his right eye, causing bleeding and a chance of retinal detachment, which would mean loss... MORE

Capt. Adam Bingham, 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, performs preflight procedures on a C-17 aircraft for an aeromedical evacuation mission.

APS expeditors train to take on new roles, increase delivery speed
October 13, 2006 — The aerial port is the heart of any air mobility operation and now, through a velocity initiative inspired program, the 437th Aerial Port Squadron will beat faster and more efficiently. The Aerial Port Expeditor program, or APEX, is a three-week course that trains APS Airmen in the ways of the loadmaster. The APEX program provides the capability... MORE

Staff Sgt. Frank Douglass, 437th Aerial Port Squadron transportation specialist, keeps the winch line slack during Aerial Port Expeditor training on the flightline Oct. 3. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Sam Hymas)

Australian air force mechanics get C -17 training at Charleston
October 13, 2006 — Members of the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 5, are providing first-of-its-kind training for 24 Royal Australian Air Force mechanics with a custom-made program at their C-17 training facilities here. In March, Brendan Nelson, the Australian Minister for Defence, announced his country's purchase of four C-17s to enhance their global airlift... MORE

Royal Australian Air Force Cpl. David Roberts (center) and Leading Aircraftsman Michael Clarson (left), go over computer-based technical orders with Tech. Sgt. Troy Barber, 373rd Training Squadron Detachment 5, at the 373 DET. 5 training building Sept. 29. Twenty-four RAAF members have been at Charleston AFB since July 31 receiving training on C-17 maintenance procedures. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Sam Hymas)

New 'Port Dawgs' set up for success at 437 APS
September 25, 2006 — The 437th Aerial Port Squadron has found a unique way to get their Airmen trained smarter, faster and better. It's called the Port Dawg University. The Port Dawg University Program is "aerial port's way of streamlining everything," said Master Sgt. Catherine Richardson, 437 APS Unit Learning Center NCO in charge. The purpose of the program is to... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Serge Ladd, 437th Aerial Port Squadron Port Dawg University instructor, goes over the specifics of the 10K forklift with Senior Airman Raymond Banks. Airman Banks is a member of the second wave of students at the university.

Communications Squadron tech controller awarded Purple Heart
September 22, 2006 — Staff Sgt. Alan Padgett came home from his deployment with a memento he'd rather have left back in Iraq: a piece of shrapnel lodged in his chest from a rocket propelled grenade attack. The sergeant, a network management technician with the 437th Communications Squadron here, was injured while at Ali Base, Iraq, only two weeks before his scheduled... MORE

Staff Sgt. Alan Padgett (right), 437th Communications Squadron tech controller, talks with Brig. Gen. Robin Rand, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander, after being awarded the Purple Heart at Ali Base, Iraq.

Charleston photojournalist featured on cover of national magazine
September 18, 2006 — An aerial combat photojournalist with the 1st Combat Camera Squadron here will be featured on the cover of a national professional women's magazine. Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall's self portrait flying in a helicopter over Iraq in 2003 graces the front of the October issue of Pink, a magazine targeting women executives, professionals and business... MORE

Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall shot this self-portrait Nov. 11, 2003, while flying over the Iraqi countryside near Babylon. Sergeant Pearsall is an aerial combat photojournalist with the 1st Combat Camera Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. She is featured on the cover of the October issue of Pink, a magazine targeting women executives, professionals and business owners, which hits newsstands Sept. 19. (U.S. Air Force photo)