06-07-2013 The Patriot (Joint Base Charleston)

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Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

Patriot

Vol. 4, No. 21

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

Friday, June 7, 2013

Airman maintains the beast

U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Dennis Sloan

Tech. Sgt. Andrew Gravett, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, walks along the top of a C-17 Globemaster III while wearing a safety harness as he does a routine maintenance check of the aircraft June 4, 2013, at Joint Base Charleston – Air Base, S.C. The first C-17 to enter the Air Force’s inventory arrived at Charleston Air Force Base in June 1993. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area.

INSIDE

Joint Base Charleston reacts to fiscal challenges

SUMMER SAFETY To drink or not to drink See page 4

CAN DO

MXS unveils new emblem See page 7

PROMOTIONS

Airmen rise through the ranks See page 9

Courtesy of 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Joint Base Charleston, and our nation as a whole, has been coping with challenging economic times. In 2011, the Budget Control Act required the Department of Defense to cut more than $487 billion from the defense budget over 10 years, beginning this fiscal year. The Act also tasked a Supercommittee to cut $1.5 trillion over 10 years, but that plan did not materialize, and as a result an additional $1.2 trillion in cuts, known as sequestration, was levied on the Federal budget, with half of those cuts coming from the DoD. As a result of reductions mandated by the Budget Control Act and sequestration, the Defense Department must cut $46 billion in FY 2013, which will include at least $1.9 million in cuts here at JB Charleston. Based on guidance from the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Undersecretary of the Air Force and the AMC Vice Commander, JB Charleston officials identified areas to reduce expenditures, and cease or defer services and programs for this fiscal year in order to find savings. Cost saving actions already underway

includes curtailing non-mission essential flying, delaying purchases of non-essential equipment and limiting official travel. “We simply can’t afford to continue operating without changing our methods and reducing our expenses. Therefore, Joint Base Charleston is taking actions to live within a lower funding level and preserve our readiness,” said Col. Richard McComb, JB Charleston commander. Assessments were made locally of JB Charleston’s support functions, a few of which included grounds and facility maintenance; custodial services; and civil engineer response to facilities sustainment, restoration and modernization work orders. Additionally, all Force Support, Communications, and Logistics services were evaluated, and recommendations for changes were coordinated with the Joint Base Charleston Partnership Council, which is comprised of the base’s main mission partners. The proposed reductions, including the feedback and recommendations from JB Charleston’s mission partners, are projected to provide enough savings to off-set the reductions received due to sequestration. “Any changes made to services and support were not rushed decisions—we took a methodi-

cal approach to identifying the base’s most vital needs and programs to ensure sound decisions were reached. It was also done with complete transparency, coordinating with all affected customers and mission partners before making any final decisions. Commanders beyond Joint Base Charleston are facing these same problems and taking similar actions. Our Navy counterparts are also instituting cost-saving measures in their commands to deal with the new fiscal environment,” said McComb. Below are some of the most visible changes that could impact members of the JB Charleston community: Civil Engineer Updates - Non-Emergent Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization - The 628th Civil Engineer Squadron will respond only to Life/Health/Safety issues and emergency work orders. All routine work orders will be deferred. - Custodial Services - Some customers will notice a change in the frequency of their routine custodial services, such as common-area cleaning and trash pickup. See Fiscal Challenges, Page 4

JB CHS Weapons Station hosts Paint Run

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz and his son Jordan get hit with green corn starch May 18, 2013, during the Paint Run 5K Run at Joint Base Charleston Weapons Station, S.C

Weekend Weather Update JB CHS, SC

Friday, June 7

T-Storms / Wind (70% precip)

High 84º Low 74º

Saturday, June 8

Isolated T-Storms (30% precip)

High 89º Low 76º

Sunday, June 9

Isolated T-Storms (30% precip)

High 88º Low 76º

U.S. Air Force photo / Airman 1st Class Logan Brandt

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. LeeAnn Sunn gets hit with green corn starch May 18, 2013, during the Paint Run 5K Run at Joint Base Charleston – Weapons Station, S.C. JB Charleston hosted their first annual paint run. The event was one of many activities offered to JB Charleston to enjoy for the start of the summer.

See Joint Base Charleston on Facebook! - Follow Discussions, Connect With Your Base! CYAN-AOOO

MAGENTA-OAOO

YELLOW-OOAO

BLACK 01/29/08

Participants in the the Paint Run 5K Run get hit with green corn starch May 18, 2013, at Joint Base Charleston – Weapons Station, S.C.


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