News

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)

Charleston Airmen participate in Day of Caring
September 15, 2006 — More than 95 Charleston Airmen participated in the Trident United Way's Day of Caring throughout various areas of the Lowcountry Monday. Groups of Airmen from 12 different agencies on base took part in various volunteer projects ranging from providing office assistance, to performing maintenance on playgrounds to landscaping in Berkeley, Dorchester... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Tracy Duplantis, 1st Combat Camera Squadron volunteers for United Way by painting the halls of the Rollings Middle School of the Arts Monday. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stacy Pearsall)

Deployed C-17 squadron changes hands, carries on 2 EAS concept
September 8, 2006 — Charleston Air Force Base's first full-squadron deployment of C-17 Globemaster III aircrew and leadership came to a close Sept. 1 with Lt. Col. Ricky Rupp, 14th Airlift Squadron, assuming command of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron from Lt. Col. Lenny Richoux, 17 AS, in a brief ceremony on the steps of the squadron's front door. Colonel... MORE

Capt. Mitch Alley, 17th Airlift Squadron pilot, Charleston AFB, SC, reunites with his sons, Brett, 2, and Seth, 5, after returning from a three-month deployment Sept. 3. The 14 AS replaced the 17 AS downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Sam Hymas)

Every travel nickel counts ... it ultimately comes out of your pocket
September 8, 2006 — Today we have an $8.5 trillion national debt and the highest budget deficits in our nation's history. But why should you care? Defense spending currently represents about 19 percent of annual federal expenses and about half of federal discretionary expenses, so it is a big target. Even with the Global War on Terrorism, the growth rate in... MORE