Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Patriot Joint Base Charleston: ‘Launch Point For The Nation's Resolve’
Vol. 9, No. 2
Vice President travels downrange via 437 AW C-17
U.S. Air Force photo / D. Myles Cullen
JB Charleston plows through winter storm to restore ops
By Staff Sgt. William A. O'Brien Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
repairs shop cleared roads, the 628th Contracting Squadron contracted the necessary snow plows to assist with the effort. JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. – In “We’re not equipped or trained for snow the wake of Winter Storm Grayson, which removal like many northern bases are,” said arrived Jan. 3, 2018, several teams from across Winter. “When it snowed and we needed to get Joint Base Charleston worked to clear the it done, we took the tools we have at our dispossnow, return runways to operational status and al and we did it. We used a grader, which is fix damages caused by the snow and ice. used to level fill material and land and a back Like previous rare storms such as in 1973 hoe as make shift snow plows.” and 1989, Grayson created unusual chalTo the untrained eye an airfield may just lenges for Joint Base Charleston. However, seem like a large surface of concrete, but it is readiness to deliver Rapid Global Mobility actually a delicate surface that must be handled was never threatened because Airmen relowith care and cleared with specialized snow U.S. Air Force photos / Col. Jeff Nelson plows. cated and prepositioned Air Mobility aircraft A 437th Airlift Wing C-17 Globemaster III sits on the Joint Base to actively operate from remote locations. “The grader and backhoe could be used for Charleston, South Carolina ramp after winter storm Grayson "From the beginning, our priority was preliminary removal, but could do significant dumped up to 6 inches of snow on the Lowcountry Jan. 4, 2018. safety. A great deal of caution and consideradamage to the airfield if used to clear all the tion had to be taken into account as we snow,” said Winter. degrees. Many of our teammates worked long worked through our response to this historic snow hours to ensure the safety of both our personnel In order to make the runways safe for flight storm and multiple days of temperatures below 40 and resources," said Col. Jeff Nelson, 628th Air operations, base officials obtained additional snow and ice removal resources to augment locally availBase Wing commander. In order for the entire installation to resume nor- able and contracted equipment. “This historic winter storm produced icy condimal operations, the base had to recover the airfield, remove snow on the roads and address facility tions from freezing rain and then dumped up to six issues such as broken water lines and HVAC sys- inches of snow on the airfield. A coordinated effort ensued across the base and with our partners at the tem damage. “These services are taken for granted until Charleston County Aviation Authority and Boeing they’re no longer there. When the power or water to safely clear the runways of both snow and ice to goes out or people are unable to pass through reopen the airfield for operations,” said Col. Jimmy roads, response teams kick in and save the day,” Canlas, 437th Airlift Wing commander. “It took a said Col. Rockie Wilson, 628th Mission Support great deal of teamwork and resourcefulness throughout the storm, and I'm thankful for the men Group commander. Joint Base Charleston is responsible for main- and women who worked around the clock to taining the runways used by both our military and restore operational capability at the airfield.” While spending millions of dollars on supplies civilian partners. With safety as the top priority, the base worked in coordination with the Charleston and equipment that might only be used every few County Aviation Authority and Boeing to reopen decades isn’t economically practical, leadership is Runway 03/21 by noon Jan. 6. Additionally, flight actively looking at ways to better prepare for future operations and the entire airfield reopened the fol- storms. “There will always be lessons learned, and lowing day as of 2 p.m. with the help and partnerbecause of that we are working with our local comship of teams across the base. From Joint Base Charleston Multicultural "Everything from our security forces members munity partners on ways to continue to improve Committee keeping watch on the roadways for travelers, to the our response in the future,” said Nelson. “I'm weather flight monitoring and providing necessary thankful for the efforts of our team in response to JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. – updates to the storm -- the dedication across the this historic storm.” Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a United States installation to bring the base federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. up to full operations was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is observed on admirable,” said Nelson. the third Monday of January each year, around The 628th Civil Engineer the time of King's birthday, January 15. Squadron jumped into action This year, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day repurposing excavation and of Service was recognized on Jan. 15, 2018. construction equipment to The poster concept focuses on the Edmund clear the roads for essential Pettus Bridge, Selma, Ala. which was the site of personnel to make their way Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965, where state and into work. local lawmen attacked civil rights demonstra“When we started clearing tors as they attempted to march from Selma to the main gate the ice was the state capital. The quote showcased on the about three inches thick,” said poster is from Dr. King's address at the Youth Tech. Sgt. Gregory Winter, March for Integrated Schools on April 18, 1959. 628th Civil Engineering The national recurring theme of this holiday Squadron NCO in charge of is, "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not horizontal repair. “Breaking a Day Off." It calls upon the American people ice down and getting the first to engage in public service and promote peacetwo lanes open made it possiful social change. Dr. King's unfinished moveble for people to start safely ment toward equality can be achieved by our getting back on base.” A view of the Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina ramp after winter storm united, enduring efforts. While the horizontal Grayson dumped up to 6 inches of snow on the Lowcountry Jan. 4, 2018.
January 19, 2018
Vice President of the United States Mike Pence greets Air Force Col. Louis Hansen, 437th Operations Group commander with, left to right, Maj. Jeff Dupuis, 1st Lt. Pat Lobo, Tech. Sgt. Cliff Hudson, Airman 1st Class Tom Gauthier, all assigned to the 14th Airlift Squadron and Tech. Sgt. Will Hunt, far right, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Dec. 22, 2018. The Vice President traveled to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, onboard an Air Mobility Command C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Charleston, S.C., to visit U.S. service members and speak on the strategy in Afghanistan. Following a 40minute speech, Pence thanked troops for their continued service during the holiday season. See more photos, Page 3.
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INSIDE
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Helping to stop human trafficking See page 3
STINGRAYS
Team tours Joint Base Charleston See page 5
ROK in the USA Retired Korean general visits See page 6
Next Issue of the Patriot: February 2, 2018
Weekend Weather Update for Joint Base Charleston, SC Friday, January 19 Sunny (0% precip)
High 60º / Low 31º
Saturday, January 20 Partly Cloudy
(0% precip)
High 63º / Low 35º
Sunday, January 21 Sunny (0% precip)
High 66º / Low 41º
Extended Forecast Mon. - January 22 64°/ 51° - PM Showers (50%) Tue. - January 23 64°/ 38° - AM Clouds/PM Sun (10%) Wed. - January 24 62°/ 43° - Partly Cloudy (20%) Thur. - January 25 61°/ 45° - Partly Cloudy (20%) Fri. - January 26 63°/ 50° - Partly Cloudy (10%)
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