Commentaries

The Declaration of 1776: An expression of the American mind
July 2, 2025 — On July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted in favor of independence from Britain. John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, that “the Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.” However, the Declaration of Independence would be adopted on July 4 and signed on August 2, 1776. The Declaration of Independence was written one year into a war with Britain, the most powerful empire of the time. Although the document did not make everyone equal in America, it became a beacon of liberty, resulting in revolts across the world...

Women Air Service Pilots: Veterans of the Sky
April 7, 2025 — On 30 September 1988, roughly 400 women gathered at Charleston Air Force Base for a special reunion, which culminated in an orientation flight with an all-female flight crew aboard a C141-Starlifter. These women were not only veterans but had also served in the Women Air Service Pilots (WASP) program, which marked a significant chapter in the...

Joint Base Charleston civilian retires after 45 years of true ‘Service Before Self’
December 16, 2024 — Williams' service began in February 1981, following in her aunt's footsteps, by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force as an aircraft electrician. After completing her technical training at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois, she set off for her first duty station, Torrejon Air Base, Spain, where she worked on F-4 Phantoms and F-16 Fighting Falcons until her separation from active duty in 1985...

JB Charleston demos real-time Quantum Magnetic Navigation technology
August 12, 2024 — SandboxAQ, a software company focused on solutions at the intersection of artificial intelligence and quantum technology, recently demonstrated their Magnetic Navigation technology on a Joint Base Charleston C-17 Globemaster III...

Falling in Love with Stories
November 8, 2023 — A commentary by Airman 1st Class Thomas Hansford about falling in love with telling stories...

But it's all natural!
March 2, 2022 — The air floods thick with pollen every spring. This is nature’s way of saying; “I’m alive and ready for the new year.” The ensuing blanket of yellow is followed by shouts and gestures resembling a mother’s reaction to finding a can of open paint in the same room with the rapture of children at play. Rain puddles mixed with pollen do resemble a puddle of yellow paint...

Joint Base Charleston Hosts Leadership Reasonable Accommodation Training
May 7, 2021 — Many by-law programs are available for leaders to optimize the workforce and ensure inclusive practices. Navigating the intricacies of all the programs and requirements can be challenging. To provide education and training for the Reasonable Accommodations Program, Joint Base Charleston championed the deliberate leadership development initiative to provide a virtual session on May 10, 2021 from 1000-1130...

But it’s all natural!
March 23, 2021 — The air floods thick with pollen every spring. This is nature’s way of saying, “I’m alive and ready for the new year.” The ensuing blanket of yellow is followed by shouts and gestures resembling a mother’s reaction to finding a can of open paint in the same room with the rapture of children at play. Rain puddles mixed with pollen do resemble a puddle of yellow paint. Another common sound heard may be the noise of a power washer running or the screams of people being sprayed with cold water while trying to wash the unsightly pollen and other detritus off houses, vehicles, driveways and white picket fences. This is all a natural response to; “Hey … it’s dirty and needs washing!”...

Why we need to protect wetlands
September 30, 2020 — Many people living in the United States are unaware of the importance of wetlands and the need to protect them. It's an issue occasionally reported on television news and sometimes on programs found on cable TV channels such as The Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and the National Geographic Channel. But what are wetlands? And why are they so important? Wetlands are land in which the soil is saturated with moisture either permanently or during certain times during the year. Wetlands may be partially or completely covered by shallow pools of water and include lakes, rivers, streams, ponds, swamps and marshes. They can be saltwater, freshwater or brackish. Another way to describe a wetland is that it is an area of land having a water table that stands at or near the surface for a long enough season each year to support aquatic plants. ...

Suicide and Mental Health Awareness
September 23, 2020 — Life is filled with obstacles and stressors amplified by uncertainty related to the pandemic. As children return to school and parents return to work, managing stress in both environments requires a team approach to transition back into these environments and overcome difficulties. During these times it is vital to assist service members with adjusting to the work environment, help manage stress and find ways to remain connected while social distancing as pandemic precautions fluctuate. While brief periods of stress motivate us to achieve goals and develop creative solutions; extreme and ongoing stress can lead to financial problems, relationship concerns, job issues, changes in sleep and eating patterns or health challenges...