Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Vol. 6, No. 17
Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, May 1, 2015
Active-duty and Guard keeps Nepal relief effort moving
U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Taylor Queen
Members of the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 2 wait on board a C-17 Globemaster III from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., to take off from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., April 26, 2015. In all, 57 members of CA-TF2, along with their equipment and six search dogs will travel to Nepal to assist in the earthquake relief efforts. When called upon, these teams travel with specialized equipment, such as heavy concrete cutting equipment, chainsaws, search cameras and sonar to locate victims, as well as specialized communications and generators. To keep the aircraft moving, the mission will be flown by three different aircrews, two from the 437th Airlift Wing at JB Charleston and one from the 164th Airlift Wing at the Tennessee Air National Guard in Memphis, TN.
By Trisha Gallaway Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
In response to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake which struck central Nepal April 25, 2015, the 437th Airlift Wing here began preparing for the possibility of providing support to Nepal. "Soon after the call for relief came, several members led by Maj. Scott Motley, 15th Airlift Squadron assistant director of operations, began changing their weekend plans to coordinate and execute a very important humanitarian mission for Nepal," said Lt. Col. Cassius Bentley, 15th AS commander. Not long after, the 16th Airlift Squadron began preparations as well. "We placed aircrews into alert status, ready to launch as soon as we could verify that the airfield in Kathmandu, Nepal could receive aid flights," said Lt. Col. Patrick
Farrell, 16th AS commander. Coincidently, both squadrons would be called upon to make sure the first 437th AW mission in support of Nepal got off the ground. The 15th AS "immediately generated two crews," said Bentley, "one of which flew to [March Air Reserve Base] Calif., to transport an interagency disaster response team for further movement." Upon landing at March ARB April 26, 2015, Inspector Chris Read, a Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman said, "A 57-member team of L.A. County Fire Department firefighters, six search dogs and two semitrucks worth of equipment were loaded onto the C-17." According to a new release put out by the California Office of Emergency Services, this special team is known as the Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 2 or CA-TF2. They are
one of eight teams that make up the California Urban Search and Rescue Program. These teams, when called upon, travel with specialized equipment, such as heavy concrete cutting equipment, chainsaws, search cameras and sonar to locate victims, as well as specialized communications and generators. Following the loading of the team's equipment, Capt. Brandon Gillet, 15th Airlift Squadron C-17 pilot and the aircraft commander for the mission, flew the cargo and personnel back to JB Charleston, where he then handed the mission off to an aircrew from the 16th AS. The second leg of the mission to Nepal departed JB Charleston April 27, 2015 with Capt. Zachary White, 16th AS and mission aircraft commander at the helm. "Captain White and his crew are flying directly to Germany where an Air National Guard crew will take over See Nepal Relief, Page 3
JB Charleston promotes SAPR month theme: “know your part, do your part” Story and photos by Senior Airman Marianique Santos 1st Combat Camera Squadron
INSIDE
Throughout the month of April, military and civilian members participated in events for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response month at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Events included a 5K SAPR run, a "design a shirt for the clothesline" project and a "walk a mile in their shoes" event, which further raised awareness and promoted education on the SAPR program. "The theme of SAAPM is 'know your part, do your part,'" said Maj. Gen. Gina Grosso, U.S. Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response director, who attended and spoke at the victims advocate recognition luncheon. "It's not enough to say, 'I'll never commit this crime.'" The month's events were organized and sponsored by the SAPR office. The SAPR office reinforces the Air Force and Navy's commitment to eliminating sexual assault through a comprehensive program that provides prevention and awareness education. "We've gotten better over the past decade in honing our ability to respond to sexual assault," said Grosso. "We could not have made it this far without the foundation we laid in 2005 which allowed us to accelerate our progress because it brought to light areas of improvement in dealing with this crime." Grosso also commended the Joint Base Charleston SAPR team for the great work they have been doing for the program. She also recognized victim advocates - those newly certified and who have been volunteering for years - and presented them certificates for the time they have dedicated to their training and the program. "I'm going on my second year of being a victim advocate," said Tech. Sgt. Chiquita Frazier, 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron flight service center NCOIC. "Throughout the course of that, we have to do refresher training in different kinds of courses to make sure we maintain our national certification. We get a lot of experience with different agencies that help victims recover. We're continuously learning and
Season starts, safety reviewed
MOTORCYCLE Page 4
Maj. Gen. Gina Grosso, U.S. Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention and Response director, poses with Team Charleston leadership and victim advocates after a victim advocate recognition luncheon April 21, 2015, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The victim advocate program is spearheaded by the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office to ensure a compassionate and effective response for victims of sexual assault. See more photos at www.charleston.af.mil
making sure that we are best prepared to help victims." The victim advocate program supports SAPR's mission of ensuring compassionate and effective response for survivors and cultivating a base-wide wingman culture that is founded on mutual respect and trust. "The purpose of the program is to assist individuals who come forward for help," said Grosso. "Victim advocates are people who can accompany an individual and provide support 24/7." The victim advocates program is open to all active-duty military members and Department of Defense civilians. Airmen and Sailors who volunteer for the program take time out of their schedule to ensure that victims seek assistance from the appropriate agencies and get the support they need
JB Charleston Airman honored
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Paintball 5K Fun Run held at JB Charleston
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through the road to recovery. "The training is phenomenal, so if you're a little anxious about volunteering, I would recommend that you come see the Sexual Assault Response coordinator," said Grosso. "There's no greater wingman than someone who volunteers to be a victim advocate." Though not everybody can meet the requirements of becoming a victim advocate, Grosso asks everyone to uphold the SAPR month's theme by being part of the solution. "You have to do your part to ensure this environment is a place where we can all thrive and every Airman is treated with dignity and respect," she said. "That's when we will achieve an Air Force free from sexual assault."
WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE for Joint Base Charleston, SC Mostly Sunny
Friday, May 1
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High 74º Low 52º
Mostly Sunny
Saturday, May 2
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High 78º Low 56º
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Sunday, May 3
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High 79º Low 57º