Features

Mission Partner Highlight:1189th TSB
January 18, 2017 — Army Col. Daniel A. Keller currently serves as the full-time commander for the1189th Transportation Surface Brigade located on the Joint Base Charleston - Weapons Station, here.The 1189th TSB's mission is to provide command and control to assigned and attached surface deployment and distribution commands (SDDC). Additionally, when required, the... MORE

Army Col. Daniel A. Keller, 1189th Transportation Surface Brigade commander (1189th TSB).

To the Philippines and back: Wing Commander reflects on his heritage
January 11, 2017 — The first ever Asian American and Pacific Islander forum sponsored by the Presidential Commission was held in Washington, D.C. in December.U.S. Air Force Col. Jimmy Canlas, 437th Airlift Wing commander, attended the open discussion about challenges being faced by current military members and veterans and the plans to resolve the issues for future... MORE

U.S. Air Force Col. Jimmy Canlas, 437th Airlift Wing commander, poses for his pilot training graduation photo at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, in July, 1994. Because few Asian Americans were pilots at the time, something as small as his oxygen mask made Canlas stand out. Since the bridge of his nose is wider than most, the instructors had to give him an older, obsolete model. Now more than 20 years later, Canlas attended the first ever Asian American and Pacific Islander forum sponsored by Presidential Commission in Washington, D.C., Dec. 5, 2016 to help continue valuable mentorship for other Asian American men and women serving in the military.

Career experiences help chaplain branch out
December 22, 2016 — A high school student, who wasn’t sure what he wanted to do in life, became a foreign exchange student in Bolivia, South America where he met a special young lady. After graduation, he returned to the United States and enlisted in the Navy Nuclear Power program as an electrician in November 1989. However, the Navy was not the last stop in his... MORE

U.S. Air Force Capt. Norman Jones, 628th Air Base Wing chaplain, poses with memorabilia from his career Dec. 14, 2016, at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. Jones has given more than two decades of military service to his country while serving in the Navy, Army and then the Air Force.

Airman transitions to officer corps
December 7, 2016 — Joining the Air Force wasn’t his first plan. He had seen how expensive college could be and without a specific career path in mind, he decided that wasn’t the direction he wanted to take. Growing up the son of a U.S. Marine, the thought of service had crossed his mind before. When two of his close friends joined the U.S. Air Force that influenced... MORE

U.S. Staff Sgt. Gabriel Lazurka, financial services supervisor at the 628th Comptroller Squadron, poses at his desk Nov. 30, 2016, at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. Lazurka was accepted into the Commissioned Officer Training program for healthcare. COT is a five-week program designed to transition Airmen and civilians into the U.S. Air Force commissioned officers corps.

Charleston soars through time
December 7, 2016 — From Charleston Municipal Airport in 1942, to Charleston Air Force Base (AFB) in 1953, to Joint Base Charleston in 2010, this installation has provided worldwide airlift support for over 70 years. Eight different cargo aircraft and four tenant unit aircraft have operated here since Charleston AFB’s founding.“Virtually every contingency operation... MORE

The C-141 Starlifter was stationed at Joint Base Charleston, then Charleston Air Force Base, from 1961 to 2000. The C-141 Starlifter has been memorialized as a static display at the air park here. Additionally, a model of the aircraft is displayed in front of the JB Charleston Starlifter Lanes Bowling Alley.

Mental Health: Keeping things paw-sitive
December 6, 2016 — Walking into the Mental Health Clinic can be unnerving for many patients. That is why Senior Airman Kasandra Groff enlisted the help of Sergeant Stoeger, a four year-old German shepherd. Stoeger, with a happily wagging tail, greets patients entering the clinic. Groff, a 628th Medical Operations Group (MDOS) Mental Health Clinic mental health... MORE

Senior Airman Kasandra Groff, a 628th Medical Operations Squadron Mental Health Clinic mental health technician, kneels next to Sergeant Stoeger, an animal assisted activity dog and Groff's pet, here, Dec. 1, 2016. As an assisted activity animal dog, Stoeger is able to sit in on appointments when requested by patients and attend mental health immersions around base.

Airman enhances partnerships, foreign language skills
November 21, 2016 — MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- As an Air Force Academy graduate early in her career, 1st Lt. Ariel Saltin looks for every opportunity to use her skills to enhance her surroundings. Saltin, assigned to the 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, actively seeks additional opportunities to use her French language... MORE

1st Lt. Ariel Saltin communicates lessons provided by U.S. Marine Corps instructors on piracy deterrence tactics to Cameroonian marines. Saltin traveled to Cameroon with LEAP in order to provide joint training support. (Courtesy photo)

Thank you for your service
November 4, 2016 — Service to one’s country and the sacrifices made in doing so are normally respected by the general public. However, it’s not always the case. Many Vietnam veterans experienced unwelcome returns home. “I entered the Air Force in 1968 after the riots in Harlem, NY spurred by the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. As a South Carolina native... MORE

Mitchell Jenkins, chief of logistics at the 1st Combat Camera Squadron, and Vietnam veteran, reminisces while looking through a photo album Nov. 1, 2016, at Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. Jenkins keeps an album full of photos from his career in Combat Camera.

WWII veteran continues to serve
November 3, 2016 — Before the United States existed as a country, those who took up arms to defend the land were supported by the local community. In 1636, the pilgrims of Plymouth Colony passed a law to provide for disabled soldiers from the colony who had participated in the war against the Pequot Indians. Support provided to veterans continues today, 380 years... MORE

Francis Bolds, United States Navy Retired Senior Chief Petty Officer from James Island, South Carolina, presents his Navy retirement certificate at the Veteran Affairs building Oct. 24, 2016. Bolds is a World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veteran who has volunteered at the VA for over 20 years. Bolds will be the grand marshal at the Veterans Day Parade in downtown Charleston Nov. 6.

Veterinarians taking care of people, pets, and police
October 27, 2016 — Like their handlers, the four-legged members of Joint Base Charleston need to be healthy to continue the mission.The JB Charleston Veterinary Treatment Facility provides medical care to military working dogs and the cats and dogs of military members and retirees. Additionally, the clinic has the responsibility of ensuring all food sold and served... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Chelsi Deaner, Joint Base Charleston Veterinary Treatment Facility veterinary core officer, examines Military Working Dog Ari’s teeth while Senior Airman Trey Weston, a 628th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, holds Ari’s mouth open at the Veterinary Treatment Facility here, Oct. 18, 2016. The JB Charleston Veterinary Treatment Facility provides care to military working dogs and has quarterly training with the military working dog handlers on emergency procedures and first aid for their dog when they deploy.