Joint Base Charleston
Vol. 2, No. 12
Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, April 1, 2011
Col. Hansen assumes command of the 437 AW By Eric Sesit Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs Col. Erik Hansen took command of the Air Force's largest C-17 wing during a change of command ceremony March 29 at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Colonel Hansen officially assumed command of the 437th Airlift Wing from the outgoing wing commander, Col. John Wood, who has commanded the wing since May 2009. Colonel Hansen is assuming command of the 437 AW after a tour as a Chief of Staff Fellow with duties at the U.S. Department of Transportation. Colonel Hansen is a graduate of Brigham Young University and was commissioned in 1990. During his first assignment, Colonel Hansen flew the KC135R before being selected as a C-17A Initial Cadre Pilot with the 17th Airlift Squadron at Charleston Air Force Base in August 1994. As a command pilot, Colonel Hansen has vast operational experience in all aspects of the global air mobility mission including tanker and aerial refueling operations, airdrop, short-field assault landings, night vision goggle operations and aerial port operations. Colonel Hansen has also commanded the 5th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron at Abdullah Al Mubarak Air Base, Kuwait City, Kuwait. Following the change of command, Colonel Wood will assume command of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. In his last time addressing Team Charleston members, Colonel Wood said, "I hate to leave. My family and I have been so lucky that we have such a great team here in Charleston ... the 315th Airlift
Wing, the 628th Air Base Wing and of course the best wing in the Air Force, the 437 AW. "When you leave something you love, you want to leave it in the best hands possible, someone who will make things even better. Colonel Hansen is going to make the 437 AW even better." Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, 18th Air Force commander, presided over the ceremony and highlighted the accomplishments of Team Charleston during Colonel Wood's tenure. "Colonel Wood has done an extraordinary job here at Charleston," General Allardice said. "If you turn on the news, you will see Team Charleston is involved in events all around the world. From Haiti, to the recent tsunami in Japan, to the no-fly zone recently enacted over Libya, the 437 AW, under the leadership of Colonel Wood, has achieved every mission they've been assigned." General Allardice presented Colonel Wood with the Legion of Merit for his outstanding leadership. Colonel Wood then relinquished his command as the unit's guidon was passed on to Colonel Hansen. After assuming command and receiving his first salute as the commanding officer of the 437 AW, Colonel Hansen said, "I look forward to meeting all of the men and women of the 437 AW. Your work and support are legendary. As we continue to do the mission, we will continue to take care of our Airmen, both professionally and personally, so they can also continue to successfully accomplish the mission." Colonel Hansen closed his remarks by saying, "I am proud to be an Airman. I am proud to be in the Air Force and I am proud to be in Charleston." See more photos on Page 6
U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor
Col. Erik Hansen accepts the 437th Airlift Wing guidon from Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice at the 437 AW change of command ceremony, March 29 on Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Colonel Hansen is the 437 AW commander and General Allardice is the 18th Air Force commander.
Green to Blue - Air Force major's career spans two services, two Gulf wars By Trisha Gallaway Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
INSIDE
The date was February 23, 1991, and Army Private 1st Class Roy Bentley was in Saudi Arabia serving with the Second Armored Calvary Regiment, VII Corps as an armored crewman when the ground war began during Operation Desert Storm. Fast forward 20 years to February, 23, 2011. Air Force Maj. Roy Bentley lands in Kuwait, with the 17th Airlift Squadron en route to his deployment with the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, but this time as a C-17 pilot supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. During Operation Desert Storm, Major Bentley was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, I Troop, 2nd Platoon as part of the 2 ACR. "The 2nd Cavalry was the spearhead for the VII Corps movement into Iraq," said Major Bentley. "We were the lead unit for right hook. The cavalry is the eyes and ears of the Corps." Major Bentley remained on active duty with the Army from April 1990 to July 1992 when he then joined the Army National Guard and used his GI Bill benefits to go to college. In 1998 Major Bentley was accepted into the Air Force's Officer Training School and began pilot training in 1999. Today, Major Bentley is a C-17 instructor pilot assigned to the 17th Airlift Squadron here at Joint Base Charleston
AIR EXP PREVIEW T’Birds fly April 9 Page 5
and is currently deployed to Manas Air Base, which is one of three locations where the squadron is based during this deployment rotation. The air mobility mission has played a key role in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and now New Dawn. While deployed, the squadron is providing airlift for troops and passengers, military equipment, cargo and aeromedical airlift. They also operate missions involving the airland or airdrop of troops, equipment and supplies to the warfighter in austere locations. For someone who has been on both sides of the coin, Major Bentley knows how truly vital the air mobility mission is and what it can mean to the warfighter on the ground. "At the end of the ground war in 1991, the supply line was stretched and we were without our normal rations for three weeks," he said. "We did have Chef Boyardee Beefaroni as a meal supplement to our normal meals ready to eat. When the MREs ran out, it was beefaroni for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I haven't eaten it since." While the mission is certainly different this time around for Major Bentley, he has a true appreciation for the service members who are on the ground. "I can relate to the men and women I am dropping off and picking up in theater," he said. "I understand that all the supplies we deliver are sorely needed by the people on the ground. I take great pride in moving the troops around theater; taking the time to talk with them and encouraging them during their deployment."
SSNS Being replaced on ID cards Page 9
Courtesy photo
Maj. Roy Bentley flies a C-17 Globemaster III during his latest deployment to Southwest Asia in March 2011. Major Bentley is currently deployed with the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia.
Looking back on his deployment during the Gulf War, Major Bentley said his time in a tank was much different than time in a C-17. "Life in a tank was better than life on the ground," said Major Bentley. "We had a place to eat, sleep and stay protected. There wasn't too much to worry about in a tank, except another tank. See Green to Blue, Page 11
SAFETY EVENT
DADT
Ride safely
Training begins
Page 10
Operational Readiness Inspection Countdown: Page 4
35 Weeks
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