Features

Lightning strikes twice toting set of chief stripes
November 18, 2009 — "My dad said you always have to learn how to be a company man," said the senior master sergeant with a smile. After his recent selection for promotion to chief master sergeant, the senior NCO had plenty of reason to grin at what his father had told him."A company man ... that's to buy into the whole Air Force concept," he said.Senior Master Sgt... MORE

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Ronald Fox presented his son, Senior Master Sgt. Damian Fox with his new set of stripes after his recent promotion to Chief Master Sergeant. Sergeant Fox will sew on his stripes in the spring of 2010. Sergeant Fox is a assigned to the 437th Operations Group. (U.S. Air Force photo/James Bowman)

First sergeant-to-be continues to ‘pay it forward’
October 13, 2009 — She continues to "pay it forward" even though she's personally paid a high price. Just over two years ago, Master Sgt. Lisa Peele and her husband, Master Sgt. Melvin Peele Jr., were involved in a fatal forklift accident at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., which took her husband's life, leaving her with two broken bones, a torn anterior cruciate ligament... MORE

Gen. Duncan McNabb, U.S. Transportation Command commander, signs Master Sgt.
Lisa Peele's reenlistment papers after officiating her reenlistment on Sgt.
Peele's first-ever C-17 flight. Sergeant Peele will attend the First
Sergeant Academy beginning Oct. 25 and is designated to become the first
sergeant for Charleston's 14th Airlift Squadron after graduation. Sergeant
Peele's new assignment comes little more than two years after an accident
claimed her husband's life and severely injured her. Her husband had
recently attended first sergeant training, as she was preparing to submit
her formal application for the First Sergeant Academy when the accident
occurred.

More missions using less fuel, but how?
October 7, 2009 — The Air Force's premier airlifter, the C-17, weighs in at a hulking 138.5 tons, and with cargo onboard, approximately 100 tons of fuel are needed to move the massive machine along a nine-hour mission. Consuming enough fuel in one trip to gas up more than 1,000 sport utility vehicles, C-17s and the pilots who fly them are caught between missions... MORE

Farewell to an old friend
October 5, 2009 — Without any pomp and circumstance, retirement ceremony or even a letter of appreciation, Team Charleston recently said goodbye to a 40-year veteran that contributed to the wing mission during the past five decades. The veteran is a walk-in refrigeration unit used by the 437th Aerial Port Squadron's special handling division that keeps perishable... MORE

Twenty four years of honor and counting
September 30, 2009 — A passion for honor and precision has driven the 24-year career of a Charleston AFB chief master sergeant and inspired others toward the same pursuit along the way. According to Staff Sgt. Danial Sawyer, the effect has been the chief's defining characteristic. As the assistant NCO in charge of the Charleston AFB honor guard, giving honor to others... MORE

AMC testing for runways increases C-17's deployed capabilities
September 29, 2009 — At many bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, C-17s, are landing on dirt runways bringing much-needed cargo to forward-deployed service members and coalition partners. These semi-prepared airfields are rugged and to improve operations to forward operating bases, Air Mobility Command tested the capabilities of aircraft landing through semi-prepared runway... MORE

A pallet is combat off-loaded from a Charleston AFB C-17 June 20 at Tarin Kowt Airfield, Afghanistan. A recent test conducted by Air Mobility Command on semi-prepared runway operations worldwide may help the C-17 be able to reach more forward operating locations such as Tarin Kowt. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Shawn Weismiller)

Honor Guard Spotlight: Senior Airman Stephen Harper
September 29, 2009 — Name: Senior Airman Stephen Harper Unit and job title: 437th Aerial Port Squadron, air transportation cargo services journeyman Time in the Air Force: three years, six months Time in the honor guard: two years, six months What inspired you to join the honor guard? Ever since I saw the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team in Washington, D.C., I... MORE

Honor Guard Spotlight: Senior Airman Stephen Harper (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles)

Airlift mission: from the top down
September 24, 2009 — Global strategic airlift, air drop, humanitarian aid, aeromedical evacuation and the War on Terror. The words are household terminology for those in the 437th Airlift Wing, but what about the name "U.S. Transportation Command?" As one of the 10 combatant commands under the Department of Defense, commanded by Gen. Duncan McNabb, the name is of... MORE

Warrior of the Week: Senior Airman Samantha Sale-Martindale
September 21, 2009 — Senior Airman Samantha Sale-Martindale is a member of the 437th Operations Support Squadron and has been stationed at Charleston AFB for more than three years.She is currently deployed to the Middle East, and is assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. In her deployed unit, Airman Sale-Martindale is an aviation resource manager. She... MORE

Claims process allows full replacement value
September 14, 2009 — With permanent changes of station, come household goods moves, and with that comes the possibility of filing a claim for loss or damage. Luckily, the procedure to process personal claims has changed and allows for quicker processing and payment. The Department of Defense has entered into a new contract with the carrier industry called "full... MORE