Commentaries

628th Force Support Squadron, here to serve you!
October 17, 2012 — When you consider your next meal out with friends and family or your next recreational activity, we hope that you will think of Joint Base Charleston Air Base and Weapons Station Force Support Squadron activities as your first stop! Consider this: money spent in the 628th Force Support Squadrons facilities returns to the base in the form of more... MORE

“I am Air Force Energy”
October 9, 2012 — October is Energy Action Month. This year's theme is "I am Air Force Energy." As the theme implies, whether you are a military member, civilian or contractor, your ideas are vital to improving efficiency.In the last six years, Airmen in Air Mobility Command have reduced aviation fuel consumption four percent, ground fuel consumption six percent and... MORE

Hansen bids farewell to ‘Team Charleston’
October 3, 2012 — Team, last year I set out a strategy. That strategy was to position us as the Airlift Wing of choice. My purpose was to ensure that when our President and our military leaders needed critical no-fail airlift, they would call on us first. We did that by concentrating on our Wing core values of safety, precision, reliability and our emphasis on... MORE

Col. Erik Hansen, 437th Airlift Wing commander

Embrace Mr. Automated, but trust and verify with him daily
October 3, 2012 — The 2012 summer Primary Change of Station season is winding down and I had the pleasure of participating in the process this year.Now that the peak season is over, I find myself asking this question, "Who is Mr. Automated?" This guy must be a millionaire from all the money he has saved. He obviously came from Thomas Edison's gene pool and went to... MORE

SSC Atlantic: Partnering to support veterans and their families
October 3, 2012 — My Navy journey that began in 1982 from my hometown of Walterboro, S.C., has literally taken me around the world and given me the opportunity to progress from seaman recruit to Navy captain. I would not trade it for anything. But as much as I love wearing this uniform, like the more than 1.4 million service members on duty today, I also aspire to... MORE

Capt. Mark Glover
Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic commanding officer

Where is your focus?
September 26, 2012 — As I thought about writing this Diamond Tip while sitting in my office in Southwest Asia, it occurred to me there would be no better time to talk about focus. Being in a deployed environment helps us remember what it is that we really do in the military; what is really important. Often at home station, we lose sight of what really matters because... MORE

This is stupid … and it’s all your fault
September 26, 2012 — Much like a groundskeeper understands the intricacies of their golf course, it is you, the Airman, who knows and appreciates the intricacies of your office. You are responsible for watering the grass, maintaining the greens, shaping the tee boxes and even removing gophers. Yes indeed, you are to the Air Force as Bill Murray is to "Caddyshack"... MORE

Combined Federal Campaign kicks off
September 18, 2012 — The Combined Federal Campaign for Joint Base Charleston kicked off Sept. 14 at the Monthly Commander's Challenge Run and will continue through Oct. 31. The mission of the CFC is to support and promote philanthropy through a voluntary program that is employee-focused, cost-efficient and effective in providing all federal employees the opportunity to... MORE

Colonel Al Miller, 437th Airlift Wing vice commander, signs his Combined Federal Campaign form Sept. 14, 2012, while Capt. Jane Callender, Joint Base Chalreston CFC point of contact, looks on, after the Commander’s Challenge Run at JB Charleston – Air Base, S.C. The CFC is one of the largest annual charities held in the country and raises millions of dollars every year for numerous organizations. (U.S. Air Force Illustration/Airman 1st Class Tom Brading)

Are you medically ready to deploy?
September 18, 2012 — It's late on a Friday night and you get a call from your Unit Deployment Manager stating your Unit Type Code has been tasked to deploy on short notice. Are you ready?Luckily for your unit, you are one of those hard-charging Airmen and you have kept everything up to date and are ready to go! However, that is not the case across all units as 21... MORE

Problems with fire ants
September 18, 2012 — Being a native of Florida, I've become accustomed to fire ants and the painful bites these small creatures can cause. Moving here to South Carolina, I've found that they are here as well.One morning as I headed to work, I saw a small ant hill forming in my front yard. I was running behind and since it was just a small ant hill, I didn't worry about... MORE