JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Joint Base Charleston recently hosted four town halls from March 26-28, 2019, to inform service members and residents about changes affecting the installation as well as create a forum to ask questions and give feedback directly to base leadership.
The JBC town halls were held both on the Air Base and Naval Weapons Station and base members could participate on Facebook Live.
“My number one priority is the safety and well-being of all of our service members and their families,” said Col. Terrence Adams, commander of JBC. “Holding these town halls are vital in letting our community know that we’re here to listen and take care of our service members, DOD civilians and families.”
Adams led the town hall discussions along with leadership from the 628th Mission Support Group and 628th Medical Group. For all representatives, ensuring base patrons have the resources to resolve issues was key as well as emphasizing “zero tolerance” of retribution for participants.
“We want to create a venue where everyone feels comfortable coming out by having a base-sponsored town hall specifically targeting the spouses and dependents that live in the housing units, however encouraging service members to come as well,” said Col. Rockie Wilson, 628th Mission Support Group commander. “Our purpose in these town halls is to get the most feedback that we possibly can in order to truly understand where concerns are and walk through the process to reconcile those concerns.”
One of the target audiences for the town halls being the base residents, members from the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Housing Management Office and privatized housing partners attended the town halls to aid in housing-specific questions and educate participants on the organizations’ different roles.
“We fall under the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron and our role in housing privatization is to ensure the privatized partners are doing what they agreed to do,” said Sandra Nelson, 628 CES Housing Management Office element chief. “We’re making sure they’re providing good service, good homes and a safe living space to the residents.”
Base leadership, HMO and privatized housing partners allotted time at the end of the town halls for residents to address specific residential concerns directly with all three entities. However for usual work orders, all parties discussed the importance of the three-step system.
“What I would urge our residents to do is first submit work orders to the project owner; second, if they don’t get a timely response to follow up with the HMO; lastly, if they are not satisfied, that’s when I would recommend they go to their chain of command,” said Wilson. “The first sergeants are a great tool as well as supervisors and flight chiefs. Any way we can get that feedback is how we want it. “
Additionally, Adams held a 4-hour listening session in the housing office where residents could walk in and express any concerns directly to him. This session sparked four additional town halls for April 16 and 17, featuring only military representatives. The base is also instituting a virtual suggestion box for service members to anonymously submit feedback directly to leadership, as well as planning face-to-face meetings with base residents.
“I thought the town hall meetings were extremely beneficial,” said Clarissa Mae Silva, a Joint Base Charleston Air Force spouse and resident. “I highly recommend for everyone on base to attend these meetings. All questions were answered in a timely manner and the speakers were very informative.”
Adams and other base leaders were thankful for the turnout both in person and online.
“I want to thank everyone who took the time to participate in the town halls, as well as my leadership team, for their involvement and care of our service members,” said Adams. “We are all one family and I will continue to advocate for all of Team Charleston and take the time to listen.”
Please join us at one of our next town halls!
April 16
- 10:30-11:30 a.m. at NWS Good Shepard Chapel Annex
- 6:00-7:00 p.m. at the Air Base Chapel Annex
April 17
- 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Air Base Chapel Annex
- 6:00-7:00 p.m. at NWS Good Shepard Chapel Annex