CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
When you walk into certain work centers you can tell almost immediately that you are in the presence of true professionals. The feeling is unmistakable, and it's the same with any successful organization, whether it's a winning athletic team or a dedicated group of volunteers. Their attitude of excellence is infectious, and if you visit the quiet professionals of 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs you'll feel it too.
Working out of an office with almost twice as many desks as there are bodies, Charleston AFB's public affairs specialists and photographers seem to be everywhere at once. During the past 15 days, this proactive shop has managed more media visits, and written more stories and shot more photos than much larger shops might handle in a month.
Jan. 13, one day after the terrible earthquake in Haiti, 628 ABW PA was already working late into the night preparing for anticipated air mobility support to Haiti. Less than 48 hours after beginning their work, the shop was poised to capture relief operations as the story unfolded. Along with the 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs, 628 ABW PA Airmen escorted 12 members of the local and national media on the first three relief flights from Charleston AFB.
The pace of public affairs operations continued to build, and by the end of the third day the effective strength of the shop was reduced to one Airman, Trisha Gallaway, chief of media operations. With everyone else either escorting media on flights, or supporting relief efforts here on base, Ms. Gallaway coordinated national media visits and answered public affairs queries until after 3 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16.
The following week, national and international concern rose even higher as the true extent of devastation received increased media coverage. As a result of the proactive work of 628 ABW PA, the unit became the unofficial hub for national media covering Air Force relief efforts.
Their prominent role came as no surprise to Master Sgt. Sean Houlihan, public affairs superintendent, who said that given the caliber of the Airmen working here Air Mobility Command Public Affairs did not hesitate to trust the Charleston public affairs team to get the job done.
During the past week and a half the nine-person wing staff agency escorted local and national media on 14 different flights, wrote eight articles and published more than 120 photographs. In last week's edition of the Airlift Dispatch, Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles, chief of internal information, did the work of three when he single-handedly wrote four stories, published a photo series, and planned the entire newspaper with a focus on relief efforts in Haiti. He was joined in his efforts by Staff Sgt. Marie Brown, Senior Airman Katie Gieratz, Airman 1st Class Lauren Main and James Bowman; who in addition to their full-time photographer duties, assisted in escorting media members.
Rose Alexander, public affairs officer, escorted national media on two separate flights, one for 30 hours of continuous duty and the other for 16 hours. Ms. Alexander and 628 Security Forces Squadron Phoenix Ravens comforted and reassured Haiti evacuees when their return flight was increased by an additional eight hours and diverted from Florida to New Jersey. Much could be said of each person in this shop as they maintained their attitude of excellence while striving to tell the Air Force story to audiences worldwide.
Even as the story of American support to the people of Haiti begins to fall off the national media radar, Sergeant Houlihan wants the Charleston community to know that 628 ABW PA will continue to highlight all the amazing things Air Force Airmen are still doing to help other people during a time of great need.
(Editor's note: Lieutenant Jessop and Staff Sgt. Barry Loo are assigned to the 633 ABW Public Affairs Office, Langley AFB, Va. They are currently augmenting 628 ABW PA staff to provide additional support during the relief effort in Haiti.)