01-18-2013 The Patriot (Joint Base Charleston)

Page 1

Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

Patriot

Vol. 4, No. 2

Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Taking it to the hoop SFS, LRS tip off 2013 Intramural Basketball season See story and more photos, Page 6 U.S. Air Force photo / Staff Sgt. Rasheen Douglas

A player from the 628th Security Forces Squadron basketball team drives to the hoop during an intramural basketball game Jan. 15, 2013 at Joint Base Charleston - Air Base. The 2013 Intramural Season tipped off Tuesday with the 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron team beating the 628th SFS team 59-49.

437th Airlift Wing continues legacy of mobility airlift

INSIDE

SQUARED AWAY Local army sergeant becomes drill instructor See page 3

AWARDS LRS Airmen recognized

See page 5

TOPS IN BLUE

Airmen entertain Charleston with hot concert See page 9

Weekend Weather Update

Story and photo by Airman 1st Class Tom Brading Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

Since Sept. 11, 2001, the men and women of the 437th Airlift Wing have moved more than 900,000 short tons of cargo and more than 300,000 passengers through JB Charleston - Air Base. The Wing's four Airlift Squadrons play a vital part in its overall success. "Our mission is all aspects of mobility airlift," said Capt. Sven Lundberg, 16th Airlift Squadron aircraft commander. "Today, it could be flying supplies into Southeast Asia, tomorrow it could be flying relief support on a humanitarian mission and the day after that, one of our aircrews may be conducting an aeromedical evacuation of a fallen hero." The flexibility of capabilities has evolved with the times. Today, a pilot is capable of diverting an aircraft to pick supplies up at one location, to picking up a wounded warrior on the battlefield. This international communication between the airlift squadrons is continuously on the front lines of today's mission. "For me, the mission is simple," said Lundberg. "It's my job to move the supplies and people to where they need to be, and to bring the good guys back home." Another imperative mission carried out by the airlift squadrons are the dignified transfers of fallen service members. "Bringing back fallen heroes is always a solemn experience," said Lundberg. "But we always show the proper respect to honor the fallen and their sacrifice." With so many operational missions, "busy" is the best way most aircrew members describe the workload at JB Charleston. According to Lundberg, the aspect of not

Capt. James Hesson, 16th Airlift Squadron C-17 pilot, and 1st Lt. Joshua Bohun, 16th AS C-17 pilot, are planning upcoming mission schedules Jan. 16, 2013 at Joint Base Charleston – Air Base, S.C.

knowing what the next day will bring is the reason his job is so satisfying. And, although it leaves him fulfilled, it can also be mentally and physically depleting. "Most flights take off in the evening," said Lundberg. "Having a day to change your body's sleep schedule doesn't always work. We can easily become exhausted. Flying a C-17 isn't the only thing we do. Before taking off we're checking weather conditions over the ocean and on land, attending multiple briefings and filling an entire gauntlet of preparatory work before we even warm up the engines." Even though the daily operations can be

straining, Lundberg is continuously inspired by the aircrew members that serve with him. "Recently, I flew with a loadmaster that was constantly chipper," said Lundberg. "What I found out later was he had only been home four days in the last four weeks. The significance of the 437th Airlift Wing's impact to mobility airlift is unparalleled. However, the ones that are truly amazing are the Airmen, like that loadmaster, that make the mission happen every day. Not only do they stay positive, but they also sincerely love their job. Without them, none of this would be possible."

JB CHS, SC

Friday, January 18

(0% precip)

Sunny

High 56º Low 32º

Saturday, January 19 Mostly Sunny

(10% precip)

High 66º Low 45º

Sunday, January 20

(10% precip)

Sunny

High 67º Low 38º

AMC announces 2012 AF Medical Service Award winners Courtesy of Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs

Air Force officials recently released the winners of the 2012 Air Mobility Command Medical Service Awards and the 628th Medical Group walked away with two individual awards. Major Daniel Michel, 628th Medical Operations Squadron, was named the Biomedical Clinician Category I Officer of the Year, FieldGrade Officer category; and Lt. Col. Monica Lovasz, 628th MDOS, won the Clinical Excellence Award, Field-Grade Officer category. "I could not agree with Gen. Selva [Air Mobility commander] more, that these Mental Health professionals are definitely the 'best of the best'," said Col. Judith Hughes, 628th Medical Group commander. "Lt.

Col. Lovasz and Maj. Michel have done an amazing job leading our mental health team in all their efforts to support and engage our base community as well as excelling in challenging deployments during the last year. I am very proud of these dedicated clinicians and extremely glad they are part of our outstanding Medical Group team!" AMC winners will go on to compete at Air Force-Level.

NOTICE: JB CHARLESTON PERSONNEL

The Rivers gate on Joint Base Charleston - Air Base is scheduled to be closed for equipment repair and recertification Jan. 26, 2013, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All vehicles, including commercial vehicles requiring a vehicle search must use the Dorchester Gate during this timeframe. The gate is scheduled to return to normal operations after these hours.

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YELLOW-OOAO

BLACK 01/29/08


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