Features

From D-Day to the Pacific, a veteran of two fronts
June 21, 2010 — This is the third of a three-part series highlighting Charleston Veterans and their contributions on D-Day which will run through the month of June. From a list of almost 60 names of Charleston's D-Day survivors made a number of years ago, a little under a fourth were still living. Of those, only three from the June 6, 1944, Allied invasion in... MORE

Mr. Reid Cayce flips through pages of World War II photos from Normandy at his home in Summerville, S.C., June 15, 2010. In the morning hours of June 6, 1944, known as D-Day, Mr. Cayce's amphibious vehicle was part of a 5,000 vessel armada that sailed across the English Channel to Normandy. More than 150,000 men and nearly 30,000 vehicles crossed the channel to begin the invasion of France. (U.S. Air Force photo/James M. Bowman)

Professional military education reaches to the masses at JB CHS
June 17, 2010 — In the 21st century Air Force, cyberspace is filled with information options. A trickle of available sites has quickly turned into a flood over the years, from Communities of Practice, Air Force public websites and the Air Force Portal, to a growing list of social networking sites.The possible topics are nearly endless, and the search results just... MORE

Humble beginnings, heroic endings for D-Day veteran looking back
June 16, 2010 — This is the second of a three-part series highlighting Charleston Veterans and their contributions on D-Day which will run through the month of June. Billy Leonard is a Charlestonian through and through. He was born and raised in Charleston and, after attending the Citadel for just six months, joined the service in 1943 at the age of 18."I wanted... MORE

Billy Leonard talks about his experience during D-Day during an interview at his grocery store in downtown Charleston, S.C., June 9, 2010. D-Day was the Allied invasion of France on June 6, 1944. By nightfall more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were dead or wounded, but more than 100,000 had made it ashore, securing French coastal villages. Mr. Leonard served as an Army private in the 505th Regiment with the 82nd Airborne Division. (U.S. Air Force photo/James M. Bowman)

JB CHS staff sergeant keeps it cool in Middle East
June 14, 2010 — With daily temperatures averaging 100-plus degrees Fahrenheit every day, having the right kind of technical expert on hand to make sure air conditioners and related equipment are functioning properly is in high demand. One such Airman is Staff Sgt. Christopher Varnes.Sergeant Varnes, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration... MORE

Staff Sgt. Christopher Varnes, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration craftsman with the 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, works on installing an air conditioner for the Oasis dining facility during operations for the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on Feb. 10, 2010. Sergeant Varnes is deployed from the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., and his hometown areas are Charleston and Virginia Beach, Va. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Jenifer H. Calhoun/Released)

Local Sailor looks back at the Battle of Midway Island
June 9, 2010 — Editor's Note: At last count, the Navy has on file the names of 292 survivors of the Battle of Midway. Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down and talk with one naval aviator whose introduction to war began as a 22-year-old Ensign and ended more than 20 years later after accumulating more than 7,500 hours of flight time, the Distinguished... MORE

373 TRS readies international aircrew for flight
June 2, 2010 — If you have recently seen someone in an unusual uniform around Joint Base Charleston, you may have run into one of the 12 Royal Australian Air Force Aircraftsmen deployed 10,000 miles from home and working for three months straight.What brings the Australians halfway around the world to Charleston? Training - U.S. Air Force style.The United States... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bryan Doughty instructs Royal Australian Airmen during a three month course on C-17 maintenance at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., June 1, 2010. The complexity of the training required for the Australian Airmen is more than twice the length of the average technical school for U.S. Air Force Airmen. Sergeant Doughty is a training instructor with the 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 5. (U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Lauren Main)

New Fitness Test around the corner
June 2, 2010 — Less than one month away, the new Air Force Fitness program will go into effect July 1. Thereafter, tests will be conducted twice a year.According to Air Force Instruction 36-2905 chapter 2.1, members must earn a composite score of 75 or greater, and meet the minimum component scores in each category.Trained civilian employees will conduct fitness... MORE

Pilot for a Day dream comes true
May 25, 2010 — Allen John "AJ" Risor is not your typical nine-year-old boy. AJ, who has been fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a potentially life-threatening childhood disease, visited Joint Base Charleston May 21 as part of his wish through the Make-a-Wish Foundation. His dream was to be a pilot for a day, and Team Charleston made that dream come true.AJ... MORE

U.S. Air Force Capt. Kyle Clinton and A.J. Risor fly a C-17 simulator on Joint Base Charleston, S.C., May 21, 2010. Captain Clinton is an instructor pilot with the 15th Airlift Squadron and A.J. is the "Pilot for a Day." The Pilot for a Day program is an Air Force-wide program which helps seriously ill children to become honorary pilots for a day. The base works in conjunction with the South Carolina Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Medical University of South Carolina to identify the children who participate in the program. (U.S. Air Force photo/James M. Bowman)

Don't be a victim of 'skimming'
May 19, 2010 — Imagine yourself getting a phone call from your bank telling you that while you were working at Joint Base Charleston, your card was charged for more than $500 at a Wal-mart in Georgia. After finding herself in this situation, Airman 1st Class Alexandra Hoachlander, 1st Combat Camera Squadron combat photographer, realized she had been a victim of... MORE

Consider the consequences of a DUI
February 9, 2010 — Each decision has its own consequences, and this is especially true for the decision to drink alcohol.Rarely does the story about driving under the influence begin with, "I headed out that night to drink and drive home drunk."In every situation, the idea was something completely different. The individual usually had a designated driver set before... MORE

The Area Defense Counsel was established in 1976 to provide defense services independent from the base legal office and commander. They represent active-duty members in action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice at courtsmartial and nonjudicial punishment actions.