Joint Base Charleston
Patriot Vol. 2, No. 1
Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, January 7, 2011
C-17 marks two millionth flight hour during airdrop By 1st Lt. Kathleen Ferrero Air Mobility Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – This month, the C17 Globemaster III celebrated its two millionth flight hour. As a testament to the C-17 mission tempo, the aircraft passed its two millionth flight hour just four years after passing its first million-hour mark, and the first million hours took 16 years to reach. Although Air Mobility Command officials estimate the international C-17 fleet passed the milestone on Dec. 14, 2010, the achievement was commemorated on a Dec. 10 airdrop mission out of Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. The Dec. 10 milestone mission was a low-cost, low-altitude assignment to deliver 70 thousand pounds of fuel to a remote location in Afghanistan. The aircraft, dubbed with the call sign "Moose 75," was from Joint Base Charleston - Air Base, Charleston, S.C. The air crew comprised Airmen deployed with the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in Southwest Asia. Its members included Capt. Rick Kind, Capt. Patrick Murphy, Capt. Jordan Leicht and Senior Airman Carrie Symons from McChord Air Force Base, Wash.; as well as Staff Sgt. Paul Trowbridge from Hickam AFB, Hawaii, and Staff Sgt. Jason Fatjo from Joint Base Charleston. "It's definitely an honor," said Captain Kind, the aircraft commander of the airdrop mission. "I think it's great the Air Force is utilizing us for what we're designed to do and using us at full capacity. We're flying nonstop, but it's great flying." Air Force schedulers have doubled the number of airdrops in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility every year since 2006. Helping fellow service members in remote locations is what motivates C-17 crews to meet the high demand. For example, air deliveries keep approximately 970 trucks off dangerous roads per month. A few weeks prior to the milestone mission, Captain Kind and his crew had delivered fuel to Soldiers. They were later informed on the radio that "if they hadn't received fuel that day, they were basically gonna' go dry." "In my perspective, combat airdrops in Afghanistan are
INSIDE THE NEWEST C-17
Another Globemaster III makes Charleston home See page 6
CONGRATULATIONS Airman and Sailors shine See page 8
HOLIDAY PARTY
Honorary Commanders bring holiday cheer See page 10
SPIRITUALITY Comprehensive Airman Fitness See page 9
U.S. Air Force Photo/Staff Sgt. Andy M. Kin
A C-17 Globemaster III aircraft crew assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron loads a Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams tank for aerial transport to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Nov. 28, 2010. The 816th EAS is an airlift unit assigned to an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.
some of the best flying I've ever known," said the pilot, who's flown the C-17 since 2003. "We're making a difference with U.S. and coalition troops out on the ground in middle of nowhere. Anything they need, which in this case is fuel, we deliver." The two-million hour total includes C-17 hours flown by international partners. However, approximately 94 percent of the hours were flown by U.S. Air Force C-17s, said Capt. Mark Szatkowski, the AMC C-17 weapon system manager. The C-17 fleet is helping to meet the demand of the cur-
rent high operations tempo as it blurs strategic and tactical lines in theater, conducting airdrop and air land missions, flying into unimproved airfields and consistently being retasked for emergency aeromedical evacuation and humanitarian relief missions. One reason for the C-17's success is its versatility in both strategic and tactical airlift operations. The C-17 has broken airdrop records monthly during the past year, keeping an estimated 970 trucks off of hazardous roads See C-17 Marks Two Millionth, Page 4
Rapid Improvement Event key to communication By Eric Sesit Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
Although Joint Base Charleston became fully operational more than three months ago, there remains an ongoing effort to ensure the base’s command and control functions are able to efficiently communicate incidents to leadership and the base populace. This includes having all the information needed at the tip of their fingers to make timely and accurate decisions in the event of an emergency. Recently, a team of more than one dozen key personnel from both JB Charleston-Air Base and Weapons Station held a Rapid Improvement Event to discuss the best
way forward in opening communication channels should the unexpected happen. According to Maj. Scot Frechette, 628th Air Base Wing Command Post chief, “We are fully prepared for any event, however, our hope is that these meetings will drive the mapping and decisions for the future of Joint Base Charleston and all joint basing command and control.” Ensuring leadership and first responders have all the critical information necessary becomes more complicated when you factor in the distance between JB Charleston-Air Base and the Weapons Station. Before joint basing, there was limited coordination between base agencies to create a synergistic process and both routine and
emergency communications were not as efficient as needed. Multiple communications systems were used by first responders which could result in information bottlenecks that made it difficult for controllers to effectively manage timely notifications. By standardizing the notification process, communication times will decrease and errors will be minimized. “There are always better and more efficient ways to do things,” said Major Frechette. “Our team is looking at how we collect information in times of emergency and how we disseminate that information. Basically, we’re looking to streamline the information flow and, in the process, save lives and property if an event happens.”
General Order prohibits use of intoxicating substances Courtesy of Headquarters Air Mobility Command
Gen. Raymond Johns, Jr., Air Mobility Command commander has signed a new general order regarding the use of intoxicating substances. According to the new order, AMC military members are not allowed to: a. Possess, distribute, inhale, smoke, chew, consume or otherwise ingest any type of Salvia Divinorum, Salvinorin A, or any botanical incense or herbal mixture called "spice".
b. Inhale, inject, smoke, chew, consume or otherwise ingest any product labeled not safe for human consumption. c. Inhale household chemicals or other chemical inhalants to become intoxicated, high or to alter mood or function, or to achieve a psychoactive effect. d. Abuse over-the-counter nonprescription medications to become intoxicated, high, or to alter mood or function, or to achieve a psychoactive effect. Note: Abuse of prescription medications may violate Article 112a, Uniform Code of Military Justice and can subject an
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Airman to disciplinary action under the UCMJ or administrative action such as involuntary discharge. e. Use prescription medications in any manner other than prescribed. This order applies to all military members assigned or attached to AMC. You are also considered assigned or attached to AMC if: a. You are assigned to a tenant unit located on an AMC base. b. You are active duty personnel on temporary duty, located on an AMC base. c. You are Air Force Reserve Command personnel on orders or
on inactive duty training status located on an AMC base. d. You are an Air National Guard member upon mobilization assigned or attached within AMC. If you fail to obey this general order, you will be in violation of Article 92 of the UCMJ with possible court-martial, Article 15, or other disciplinary and or administrative action. Other actions include, but are not limited to, reprimand, admonishment, administrative demotion, security clearance suspension or revocation and involuntary separation with an adverse characterization of service.
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