Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Patriot Vol. 9, No. 13
Joint Base Charleston: ‘Launch Point For The Nation's Resolve’
July 6, 2018
437th AMXS keeps C-17s flying Airman 1st Class Andrew Causey, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, marshals out a C-17 Globemaster III June 14, 2018, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Crew chiefs here are responsible for coordinating the care and maintenance of one of the largest fleets of C-17 aircraft in the Air Force in support of Air Mobility Command’s rapid global mobility mission. See the story and more photos on Page 7.
U.S. Air Force photo / Staff Sgt. Christopher Hubenthal
Mobility Forces deliver U.S., U.K. paratroopers to Europe for Swift Response 18 By 1st Lt. Allison Egan Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
from the U.S. to Europe, each C-17 received aerial refueling by tankers hailing JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. – U.S. from MacDill Air Force paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Base, Florida, Pease Air Bragg, N.C., and British Paratroopers from the 3rd National Guard Base, New Battalion The Parachute Regiment, Colchester, Hampshire, and Joint Base England, arrived in Latvia with the assistance of McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, various mobility aircraft in support of Exercise New Jersey. Swift Response 2018 June 9, 2018. Each of the Globemasters In the eighth iteration of the exercise, nine C-17 mid-air refueled once each in Globemaster IIIs, refueled in air by two KC-135 the non-stop flight from the Stratotankers and one KC-10 Extender, transported east coast to Europe. The about 700 paratroopers nonstop from Pope Army tankers offloaded more than Airfield, North Carolina, to Latvia. Exercises like 190,000 pounds of fuel in the U.S. Air Force photo / Airman First Class Gracie I. Lee SR18 rely on joint and intraservice capabilities to process. Refueling on the fly ensure that Mobility Air Forces respond rapidly, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael B. Lewis and 1st Lt. Douglas Urbino, pilots, allows Air Force aircraft to enhance coalition partnerships and ensure global assigned to the 15th and 16th Airlift Squadrons, Joint Base Charleston, reach any place on earth in S.C., pilot a C-17 Globemaster III during an air-refueling during Exercise reach. 18 hours or less to support Swift Response 18 (SR18) June 8, 2018. SR18 is one of the premier mili“The primary mission of SR18 is to demonstrate tary crisis response training events for multinational airborne forces in joint and coalition partners. the ability to move a global response force any- the world that demonstrates the ability of America's Global Response “Being a flexible force where in the world, and in this case, it could be in Force to work hand-in-hand with joint and total force partners. enables global operations by a contested environment,” said U.S. Air Force Col. the nature of the business we Anthony Angello, SR18’s airlift mission commander. “This is an opportunity are in,” said Angello. “As an air mobility force, we maintain strategic assets that allows us to work with our coalition partners and allies in Europe and cre- like the C-17 and the KC-135 and KC-10s that provide the air refueling, creates a space where we can work together, learn from each other, and build the ating a flexible space that a combatant commander needs to succeed on the trust and confidence we need to succeed on the battlefield.” battlefield.” SR18 is co-led by the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force and includes seven The exercise provided a first for Britain’s paratroopers. partner nations in an exercise designed to train the U.S. global response force’s “We haven’t jumped from a C-17 yet, so it’s our first time, and it’s also the ability to operate with allies across Europe. When combining ground forces first time for a lot of the new guys,” said British Army Lance Cpl. Rushane with airpower, units can move thousands of miles in a matter of hours. Shaw, before the flight. The paratrooper from the 3rd Battalion Parachute SR18 is part of Saber Strike, a two-week exercise in Europe involving 19 Regiment, C Company, Colchester, England, also added, “It’s also the first partner nations and more than 12,000 troops. time in history our regiment has flown so far to jump into another country. I “Mobility airlift is what enables the Joint Forcible Entry capability. Without look forward to getting on the ground and working with our allies, using our mobility airlift, paratroopers cannot get to where they need to go,” said Senior tactics and using their tactics.” Airman Ryan Stefanowicz, C-17 loadmaster, 7th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Of the nine C-17s that headed to Latvia, two of them carried essential Lewis-McChord, Washington. “We provide the ride and we give them the equipment for the Army. With Humvees and other tactical vehicles packed unlimited global reach to get anywhere in the world.” into the jets, the Army prepared to begin their ground mission upon landing in U.S. and U.K. Army paratroopers boarded mobility aircraft June 8 begin- theater. The vehicles parachuted into Latvia with the troops. See Mobility Forces, Page 3 ning the Swift Response portion of Saber Strike 18. Over the 10-hour flight
437th Change of Command scheduled Col. Jimmy R. Canlas, 437th Airlift Wing commander, will relinquish command to Col. Clinton R. ZumBrunnen at 9 a.m., July 12, 2018, in Nose Dock Two at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Next Issue of the Patriot: July 20, 2018
INSIDE
NSA LEADERSHIP Hudson hands reins to Byrne at NSA See pages 4 & 6
DEPARTURE
437th AW bids farewell to Col. Canlas See page 5
SAFETY
Tick tactics and thunderstorms See page 10
An Airman’s journey from Lebanon to Lowcountry By Airman 1st Class Joshua R. Maund Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. – Every Airman has a story as to why they decided to serve and the journey that goes along with it. For Capt. Elie Elchartouni, 437th Maintenance Flight officer in charge, his journey started with a much different set of circumstances than most as he and his family waited 13 years to move to America from a country torn by a civil war. Immigrating from Lebanon and becoming established in the United States is no easy task, but Elchartouni knew from a very young age he would eventually end up in the U.S. “I am just one of thousands with an interesting journey,” said Elchartouni. “Our Air Force is as diverse as it is powerful.” Elchartouni speaks Arabic and French, adding versatility to the force by often serving as a translator. One of the biggest hurdles in his journey was learning English. “I went to a school that taught in French, but at the age of 18, I began to learn English, which proved to be a challenge,” said Elchartouni “But I eventually learned it.”
Elchartouni and his family settled in California. Once they arrived, he enrolled at San Jose State University where he completed his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering. “Shortly after I finished my degree, an opportunity in Silicon Valley came up and before I knew it, I landed a job as an electrical engineer,” said Elchartouni. “After four years with the company, and achieving a six-figure income, I realized how many opportunities I had received in the states and decided it was time to give back.” Elchartouni decided joining the military would be a way to honor his adoptive country, while still being able to work in his desired field and taking on a new challenge. “I walked into the recruiter’s office and told her I had a degree and the languages I spoke,” said Elchartouni. “I asked, ‘Where do I sign? I’m ready to serve.’” After commissioning through Officer Training School, he was stationed back in California where he continued to pursue his education and completed a master’s degree in engineering management at the University of California, Los Angeles. See Airman’s Journey, Page 11
Capt. Elie Elchartouni, 437th Maintenance Flight officer in charge, poses for a portrait inside a hangar on Joint Base Charleston, S.C. June 6, 2018. Elchartouni immigrated to America from Lebanon when he was 18 years old and joined the Air Force to give back to his country.
See Joint Base Charleston at www.Facebook/TeamCharleston - Follow Discussions, Connect With Your Base! CYAN-AOOO MAGENTA-OAOO YELLOW-OOAO BLACK 01/29/08