Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Vol. 6, No. 11
Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, March 20, 2015 Women from four branches of service came together March 13, 2015, for a panel in honor of Women’s History Month at the 15th Airlift Squadron auditorium at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The group (from left) includes: Chief Petty Officer Andrea Navarro, Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston Parole and Release Leading Petty Officer, Chief Warrant Officer Denise Barnes, NAVCONBRIG Charleston deputy director, prisoner management, Army Brig. Gen. Tammy Smith, U.S. Army Reserve deputy chief of staff, Navy Capt. Rosemary Carr Malone, Naval Health Clinic Charleston executive officer and Capt. Erica Stooksbury, 15th AS C-17 instructor pilot.
Women's History panel held at Joint Base Charleston By Senior Airman Tom Brading Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
On March 13, 2015, five women, from different military cultures, spoke to an audience about the education and empowerment of women continuing to shape the US military. From the civil war battlefield to the present, stories of women's contributions to military history were chronicled in the 15th Airlift Squadron auditorium. The panelists acknowledged the contributions of military women who served before them and spoke of the challenges they had faced and overcome in their own careers. The event kicked off with opening words from Col. John Lamontagne, 437th Airlift Wing commander. Referring to the women's achievements in the military he said, "We've come a long way but we still have a way to go." The event's special guest echoed Lamontagne's sentiment. Brig. Gen. Tammy Smith, U.S. Army Reserve Deputy
Chief of Staff brought more than 26 years of military experience and insight to the discussion. Today, she serves more than 206,000 Soldiers in an all-volunteer force. "Amazing women bring skill sets to any environment," said Smith. "They don't need to be coddled. They don't break. They prove themselves." Smith added she hoped to see more women integrated into combat career fields. Some of Team Charleston's finest represented their military branches on the panel as well. Capt. Erica Stooksbury, 15 AS C-17 instructor pilot, graduated from the Air Force Academy prior to training other pilots in Charleston. Stooksbury included the importance of leadership, compassion and mentoring as components of a successful military career. She also noted that in her young career, her gender has never been an issue. Stooksbury's experience is a testament to the efforts of
the women who served before her. Chief Warrant Officer Denise Barnes, Naval Consolidated Brig - Charleston deputy director, prisoner management, brought the warrior ethos of the U.S. Marines to the panel. "All of my career, I've fought alongside Marines," said Barnes. "Not the males, not the women, but all Marines. The one to my right and left." Barnes added the respect of all service members is paramount. Chief Petty Officer Andrea Navarro, NAVCONBRIG Charleston parole and release leading chief petty officer, represented the Navy and offered advice to all service members. "Find a mentor and set goals," said the 19-year veteran NCO. "Find your place to make an impact." "Be proud to be a woman," said Lt. Col. Demetria Walker, 1189th Transportation Brigade commander in closing remarks. "Be proud of what we've done and what we've contributed to this nation."
AF leaders: End sequestration or lose tomorrow’s fight
By Staff Sgt. Torri Ingalsbe Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Command Information
WASHINGTON – The devastating effects of continued sequestration-level funding were the topic of discussion during a House Armed Services Committee hearing with the senior leaders of all military branches March 17. “I believe sequestration is going to place American lives at greater risk both at home and abroad,” said Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James. “In fact, if sequestration remains the law of the land, we will not, in the United States Air Force, simultaneously be able to defeat an adversary in one part of the world, deny a second adversary the objectives they seek in a second part of the world, as well as defend the homeland. That, of course, is our national strategy, and I’m telling you we won’t be able to do it under sequestration.” The service secretaries and chiefs were asked by members of the committee to “speak plainly” about the strain of sequestration-level funding and the future impacts it will have. “The fundamental issue is going to be that the American people cannot expect their military to do what we’ve been asked to do in the past, if we stay at these funding levels,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. While all services are seeking different funding levels to
invest in different areas, they all agree these levels will only help maintain the current commitments and requirements of the U.S. military. The Air Force acknowledged these levels are still less than ideal, but will help to repair the damage already caused by sequestration. “Here’s a shocking statistic, I think,” James said. “More than half of our combat air forces are not sufficiently ready today for a high-end fight – meaning a fight in which the enemy has the capacity to shoot back at you, to shoot you down, to interfere with you through integrated air defenses and the like. More than half of our forces are not sufficiently ready for such a fight.” Even with the requested additional $10 billion, it will still take the Air Force eight to 10 years to recover that readiness, Welsh said. The Air Force also has requested to retire the A10 Thunderbolt II and slow the growth of military compensation in the proposed budget. “We know these are not popular decisions or popular choices,” James said. “But we ask you to keep in mind that, if you don’t like these choices, hold on to your hats because under sequestration it gets uglier and uglier and uglier. For example, under sequestration, our Air Force would not only have to retire the A-10 as well as slow the growth in military compensation, but in addition, we would be facing the following actions: divest
315th AW commander takes fini flight
INSIDE
Courtesy photo / Maj. Suzie Gordon
Program offers help to AF Reservists
MENTAL HEALTH Page 6
DOD images from around the world
THE LENS
Page 7
Colonel James Fontanella, 315th Airlift Wing commander is at the controls of a C-17 Globemaster III during his fini flight March 13, 2015 at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Fontanella will be leaving the 315th AW to become the commander of the Force Generation Center at Robins Air Force Base, Ga. His change of command his currently scheduled for April 11, 2015.
Events and info for both bases
BRIEFS
Page 10
U.S.Air Force photo / Jim Varhegyi
Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III answers a question posed to him during a House Armed Services Committee hearing Mar. 17, 2015, on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. The committee convened to ask the senior leaders of the military departments questions about the fiscal year 2016 President's Budget Request.
the U-2, the Global Hawk Block 40, and the KC-10 (Extender) fleets. We would have to reduce our combat air patrols – our Reapers and our Predators – up to 10 orbits. We would defer 14 F-35 (Lightning II’s), which would drive up the costs. We would cancel the adaptive engine program, and then we would have to reduce our investments in space and cyber and nuclear and science and technology and readiness and people.” The panel of witnesses was asked to break down the overall effects of sequestration in a simple, digestible explanation. “When you hear terms like ‘high risk’ or ‘significant risk’ come from a military leader, you should translate that as ‘not guaranteed success,’ because that’s what it means to us,” Welsh said. A U.S. military not able to guarantee the success of its endeavors fails to meet the National Security Strategy, and ultimately becomes irrelevant and ineffective. “Our National Security Strategy requires that we be able to do three very important things in near simultaneous fashion. We cannot do them in that sort of fashion under sequestration,” James said. “I worry that we will have Airmen who will needlessly die and become injured. I worry that we will be slower to respond. Ultimately we could lose in trying to reach our objectives.” She explained with the constant strain of sequestrationlevel funding, ‘something’s got to give.’ “I think everything is threatened under sequestration,” James said. “And most of all I fear that American lives would be at risk. I just hope and pray it doesn’t take a catastrophe in this country to wake up.”
WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE for Joint Base Charleston, SC AM Showers Friday, Mar. 20
(20% precip)
High 75º Low 56º
Mostly Sunny
Saturday, Mar. 21
(0% precip)
High 73º Low 56º
See Joint Base Charleston on Facebook! - Follow Discussions, Connect With Your Base! CYAN-AOOO
MAGENTA-OAOO
YELLOW-OOAO
BLACK 01/29/08
Rain Sunday, Mar. 22
(90% precip)
High 65º Low 54º