Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Vol. 5, No. 30
Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, August 22, 2014
Flightline Airmen maintain the mission U.S. Air Force photo / Senior Airman Dennis Sloan
Airman 1st Class Dillon Varner, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, marshals a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on Aug. 19, 2014, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. The flight crew was participating in an airdrop training mission at North Auxiliary Airfield. See more photos, Page 7.
437th AW Airmen make most out of free time By Airman 1st Class Clayton Cupit Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
Airmen from the 437th Airlift Wing gave of their free time by volunteering at a Columbian orphanage during a recent mission. The aircrew, comprised of Airmen from several different Joint Base Charleston squadrons, was flying a Capstone Military Leadership Program mission throughout Central and South America. "Capstone missions support flag officers as they go through the National Defense University," said Maj. Adam Dalson, 17th Airlift Squadron director of staff and mission commander. "During these trips, they travel around the world visiting different countries and meet with heads of state, ambassadors and dignitaries and get first-hand experience with the missions and problems these countries are experiencing." One of the benefits of a Capstone mission though, is the aircrew may actually get a few days off from flying. To fill this extra time, Dalson's team decided to do something positive with their time on the ground. The Capstone mission was taking the crew to Mexico, Colombia, Honduras and Panama, but it was while they were on the ground in Colombia that the crew was able to volunteer at a local orphanage. "We talked with the hotel concierge to see if there was a place we could volunteer our time," said Dalson. "Bogota (Colombia) isn't the safest city to hang around in. With the high local force protection levels, there were a lot of neighborhoods we couldn't visit. Luckily, the next day, the concierge told me of an orphanage called La Casa de la Madre El Nino, and how we might be able to visit the kids there." "The mission commander set (the volunteer opportunity) up
for us and our aircraft commander introduced it to the group," said Senior Airman Laura Reed, 14th Airlift Squadron loadmaster. "We were all extremely excited and ready to help." "The crew jumped at the opportunity," said Dalson. "The orphanage was originally described as worse than it actually was, but the crew was surprised by how beautiful it really was." "It was set up nicely; they took wonderful care of the kids and there was a ton of staff," said Dalson. "They've been operating successfully for more than 70 years as a family business. The lady who met us there was actually the great granddaughter of the lady who started the orphanage." The aircrew teamed up and collected $800 out of their own pockets and purchased toys and toiletries for the children. When they got to the orphanage, they split into two groups; one for the older kids, and one for the younger children. "I'm a dad myself, so I know that babies are easier," joked Dalson. "We were indoors taking care of the children, feeding and playing with them." The other group of Airmen were out in the open backyard area playing with the older kids, said Dalson. "It was great watching the other group play outside with the kids," said Reed. "The kids didn't speak English so they used hand motions to communicate with us." The orphanage is home to more than 100 children age 14 and under. "Most of these kids come from a pretty rough background," said Dalson. "It's humbling to help these kids and show them they have opportunities for a positive future and that there are people out there who really do care about them." Lt. Col. Paul Theriot, 17th AS commander, was proud that these Airmen chose to spend their time doing such a good service for others. "There is no expectation that crews need to do this kind of
Courtesy photo / Maj. Adam Dalson
Maj. Adam Dalson, Capt. Jared Thomas, Capt. Ryan Sullivan, Capt. Kenneth Welborn, Staff Sgt. Stephen Williams, Senior Airman Laura Reed and Senior Airman Andy Lopez pose for a photo with orphans from La Casa de la Madre y El Nino while on their off time during a U.S. Southern Command Capstone mission. The aircrew donated supplies and toys to the orphanage and spent hours playing with and caring for the children.
thing; but if you make the decision on leg one of the mission to have a positive, safe journey, it will happen," said Theriot. More than just helping the children in need, Dalson said he and his team had such a good time they look forward to being able to do things like this on future missions. "I would go back there in a heartbeat," said Dalson. "Nothing but big eyes and huge smiles; it was by far the best part of our trip."
CNO releases annual navigation plan
From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
INSIDE
WASHINGTON – The Navy's top leader released a detailed plan August 20 that highlights the U.S. Navy's intended track and investments for the next five fiscal years. "This navigation plan defines the course and speed we will follow to organize, train and equip our Navy over the next several years," said Greenert in the document. "Despite likely sequestration in 2016, our priority is to operate forward where it matters, when it matters, and be ready to address a wide range of threats and contingencies." Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert's 20152019 Navigation Plan defines how the Navy will use its resources to safely and effectively pursue the vision detailed in Sailing Directions.
CNO PLAN
Five year strategy released
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"Crafting this year's budget included tough choices across a wide range of competing priorities - we focused first on building appropriate capability, then delivering it at a capacity we could afford," said Greenert. Each year since Greenert released the Sailing Directions the Navigation Plan has described the annual Navy's budget submission for the future years. The Navigation Plan has highlighted investments in support of DOD's guidance and strategic documents as well as this year's 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review. In the plan Greenert explains how the Navy will acclimate to budget challenges, increasing operational tempo while balancing current readiness with the need to build a highly capable future fleet. Pursuing the vision set in the Sailing Directions this plan lays out the investments that will allow
437TH MXG Change of command
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CMSAF The way ahead
the Navy to maintain it's warfighting edge, forward presence and keep Navy members prepared, confident and proficient. This plan highlights how investments will support Navy missions through the lens of the three tenets, Warfighting First, Operate Forward and Be ready. Greenert emphasizes in the document that everything sailors and civilians do must be grounded in the responsibility of warfighting first. He says the Navy must be able to achieve access in any domain and possess the capability mix of kinetic and non-kinetic weapons to prevail today and be ready to win tomorrow. He provided a list of capabilities that center on this objective and followed with a comparable list of items that support operate forward and be ready. For more news from Chief of Naval Operations, visit www.navy.mil/local/cno/.
WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE for Joint Base Charleston, SC Partly Cloudy
Mostly Sunny
Page 6
Friday, Aug 22
(20% precip)
High 100º Low 79º
Saturday, Aug 23
(20% precip)
High 100º Low 77º
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BLACK 01/29/08
Scattered T-Storms Sunday, Aug 24
(40% precip)
High 88º Low 72º