Features

On Top of the World: Tops in Blue Airman returns home
February 9, 2012 — At the age of seven, Petrice Brown had no idea where her passion for singing would lead her. But from her humble beginnings singing in a church in the small town of Cochran, Ga. to performing in front of thousands of people around the world, Brown has remained an Airman with class.More than 13 years later, Brown, a senior airman assigned to the... MORE

Senior Airman Patrice Brown sings with the Tops in Blue show, Feb 9 at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, S.C. Brown has been performing with the Air Force's Premiere showcase, Tops in Blue for the past year. She auditioned last year at Joint Base Charleston while assigned to the 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron. She has performed in more than 100 shows around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Nicole Mickle)

Programs provide single military members recreational opportunities
February 8, 2012 — Joint Base Charleston now offers two programs directed toward serving single and unaccompanied military members in order to provide a variety of recreational programs designed to meet the needs and interests of the military community.The Air Force Single Airman Initiative Program and Navy Liberty Program are available to single military members to... MORE

The 633rd Force Support Squadron kicked off the Single Airman Initiative in October. The program gives the 633rd FSS $22,000 to spend on leisure and MWR programs for single Airmen. The Air Force developed SAI after receiving feedback from the 2010 Caring For People Forum, Single Airman Summit, and single Airmen focus groups indicating there was a need for programs to support single Airmen. The Office of the Secretary of Defense provided funding for the Air Force to develop the program.

Optometrists help clear JB Charleston’s vision
February 7, 2012 — "Please cover your left eye and read the lowest line you can see," is a common phrase heard at any optometry clinic. Joint Base Charleston currently has three different clinics: the JB Charleston Air Base Optometry Clinic, the Naval Health Clinic Charleston Optometry Clinic and the Department of Defense/Veteran Affairs Joint Optometry Clinic, both... MORE

Capt. Syreeta Lawrence uses a slit lamp on a patient Jan. 31 at Joint Base Charleston-Air Base. A slit lamp provides a stereoscopic magnified view of the eye structures in detail, enabling an anatomical diagnosis to be made for a variety of eye conditions. Both the Air Base and the Weapons Station’s clinics provide eye care to active duty service members and Reservists on special orders. The most common services provided are eye examinations, visual acuity checks, repairing glasses, color vision test and comprehensive exams. Lawrence is an optometrist from the 628th Medical Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ashlee Galloway)

Baptism by Fire: Airman battles 63,000 gallons of burning jet fuel, receives medal for heroism.
January 25, 2012 — 1st Lt. Nicholas Mercurio, 1st Combat Camera Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., didn't set out to receive the Air Force Achievement Medal with Valor while deployed with Provincial Reconstruction Team Kunar. "My hope was that I could just go out there and do my job," said Mercurio. His job was Public Affairs Officer for the ongoing... MORE

1st Lt. Nicholas Mercurio led firefighting efforts which ultimately saved Forward Operating Base Wright from destruction Nov. 15, 2010. Mercurio was awarded the Air Force Achievement Medal with Valor for his efforts and is assigned to the 1st Combat Camera Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Air Force Capt. Peter Shinn)

AADD - An Alternative to Drinking and Driving
January 25, 2012 — What if your wingman, who was originally supposed to be your designated driver, had a couple of drinks and your "get home safely" back-up plan has failed? There are other wingmen you can rely on to get you home safely: Airmen Against Drunk Driving.AADD is an all-volunteer program, which provides free, safe, confidential rides home to military... MORE

Auto Hobby Shop offers "top notch service for less"
January 18, 2012 — Often, Airmen and their families travel to off-base mechanics to seek assistance with their car issues, but little did they know, a shop exists right here at Joint Base Charleston-Air Base.The Auto Hobby Center, located in the Arts and Craft Center Bldg. 637, provides customer-driven instructional programs to enhance individual life skills that are... MORE

The Auto Hobby Center, located in the Arts and Craft Center Bldg. 637, provides customer-driven instructional programs to enhance individual life skills that are offered in a safe, well-equipped environment using expert instructors. (U.S. Air Force photo by/Senior Airman Anthony J. Hyatt)

God & War: Chaplain offers guidance in Iraq, VA hospital
January 11, 2012 — From Department of Veteran Affairs hospital rooms to war-torn battlefields, Lt. Col. John Painter, 315th Airlift Wing chaplain, helps today's warriors at Joint Base Charleston and veterans at the VA medical center find peace in the disarray of combat and scars of war.Often times, military families also need his help. Five years ago, Painter,... MORE

Lt. Col. John Painter finds himself at home in the pews at the Ralph
H. Johnson Veteran's Affairs Medical Center chapel in Charleston, S.C., Jan
5. Painter, the 315th Airlift Wing chaplain has been an Air Force Reserve
chaplain for 15 years and also works as a chaplain at the VA hospital.
Military chaplains serve as everyday spiritual needs ministers and provide
religious counseling to service members and their families. (U.S. Air Force
photo/ Staff Sgt. Nicole Mickle)

Life After Death: 45 tumors didn't slow this Airman down
December 14, 2011 — For Master Sgt. Scott Kapanke, 437th Maintenance Squadron flight chief at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., cancer wasn't a death sentence, no matter how unfavorable his odds were. To him, it was just another challenge to face. In 1995, Kapanke was a 23-year-old, C-130 maintenance student at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark., when doctors' detected he... MORE

Master Sgt. Scott Kapanke displays some of the coins he has received throughout his Air Force career. Kapanke was diagnosed with stage four cancer in 1995 and was medically retired while he underwent treatment. He beat the cancer and was then medically cleared to re-enlist in the Air Force in 1997. Since his return to active duty, he has taken a special duty assignment with the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds and deployed for 365 days with the Coalition Air Force transition team to Southwest Asia to train the Iraqi Air Force on C-130 aircraft maintenance. Kapanke is with the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Nicole Mickle)

Team Charleston’s own wins Most Beautiful Eyes, $25,000 scholarship
November 30, 2011 — A picture can be worth a thousand words, but for one Team Charleston member it proved to be worth thousands of dollars and more.Kayla Helferich, eight-year-old daughter of Master Sgt. Joe and Michelle Helferich, recently won the Prevent Blindness America "Most Beautiful Eyes" contest and was awarded a $25,000 scholarship. The national contest took... MORE

Kayla Helferich, daughter of Master Sgt. Joe and Michelle Helferich, recently won Prevent Blindness America “Most Beautiful Eyes” contest and was awarded a $25,000 scholarship. The purpose of the contest is to generate awareness of the importance of healthy eyes for children. (Courtesy photo)

Abracadabra! Story of part-time Magician, full-time Master Sgt.
November 29, 2011 — "I will make this dove disappear!" the tall, silver-haired magician confidently says to the crowd.His audience, a small group of children, eagerly watches as he carefully places the white bird into a mysterious black box and covers it with a cloth. The magician quickly removes the cloth and reveals the dove has vanished. The children collectively... MORE

Master Sgt. Perry Woods shows that the box is empty while he demonstrates one of his magic tricks at Joint Base Charleston - Air Base Nov. 30. Woods has been in the Air Force for 22-years and has been performing magic since he was nine-years old. He has volunteered to perform his magic shows for local organizations and charities for the past three years. Woods is a program manager with the 437th Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Nicole Mickle)