Features

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

Opportunities for Reservist brings appreciation for brothers in arms
September 9, 2009 — As I write this I know my words won't give justice to these stories and the individuals they're about. It is often said that not enough is done to accurately highlight the sacrifices made to advance freedom and to protect this country. And it's true. Not enough can be said or done, but we must continue to try. This summer I had the privilege to... MORE

Lt. Col. Gordon Smith, a paratrooper from WWII, shows Major General Michael Dubie, Adjutant General of the State of Vermont, the French National Order of the Legion of Honour at Landstuhl Army Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl, Germany, June 17. Colonel Smith received the medal on behalf of all paratroopers who jumped over Normandy on June 6, 1944. The Order was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and is France’s highest decoration. (Air Force photo/Capt Bryan Lewis)

Back to school academic success begins at home
August 25, 2009 — Parents can learn unique and creative ways to help their children have a successful school year and take home $20 worth of free materials Sept. 23 during two parent workshops at the Airman and Family Readiness Center here. Frequent moves and parental deployments present unique challenges to a military child's education. The Military Child Education... MORE

Bleeding gums – A silent warning?
August 13, 2009 — We've all experienced the results of overaggressive flossing - the accidental "snap" of the floss between the teeth and the ensuing presence of blood on the floss or toothbrush. It happens and it's okay, but what if your gums bleed every time you floss? Every time you brush? What if your gums are red, swollen or tender? Is this okay? These may... MORE

Recovery mission takes a wild turn
August 13, 2009 — A member of Team Charleston recently returned from an eventful mission in Laos with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command . Master Sgt. Wesley Housel, a member of the 437th Operations Support Squadron, volunteered to take part in one of these missions. According to Sergeant Housel this was a task he has always wanted to be a part of. "What is... MORE

Master Sgt. Wesley Housel sifts through dirt while conducting a recent recovery mission in the Houaphan Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic. Sergeant Housel was a digger assigned to a 10-member recovery team on a 36-day deployment to Laos in an attempt to recover the remains of Americans lost during the Vietnam War. Sergeant Housel is with the 437th Operations Support Squadron and was assigned to the Joing POW/MIA Accounting Command.

The Area Defense Counsel – Advocate in times of need
August 4, 2009 — You've seen our photos. You've read the posters, "the Area Defense Counsel's office works for you, not the command." But who are we and what do we do? As you might have guessed, we are active duty attorneys and paralegals. Unlike the legal professionals at the legal office, we don't work for the base commander. The Area Defense Counsel was... 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.

Requirements to operate a motorcycle: Do you know them?
July 29, 2009 — According to the Air Force Safety Center, the United States Air Force has already experienced 18 fatalities during the 101 Critical Days of Summer. Of those 18, five were motorcycles, and unfortunately, Air Mobility Command owned two of those five fatalities. After AMC experienced it's second motorcycle fatality, wing safety conducted a motorcycle... MORE

The Air Force has experienced five fatalities involving motorcycles during the 101 Critical Days of Summer and out of those five fatalities, two members were from Air Mobility Command. (Courtesy photograph)

Air Force combat camera team discusses role of media in military
July 13, 2009 — The media has played a major role in every American military conflict, from the use of newspapers and pamphlets, to stoke the American Revolution, to embedded journalists in the Middle East. But a story often lost in the mix is of the military photojournalists; those men and women in uniform whose weapon of choice isn't an M4 carbine with a laser... MORE