Joint Base Charleston
Patriot Vol. 1, No. 1
Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, October 1, 2010
Photo illustration by David Williams
Air Force, Navy reach full operational capability on JB CHS By Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs Come hail or high water, there’s no stopping this train. Amidst a week of preparation, perspiration and rain, Joint Base Charleston will officially achieve its long-awaited full operational capability today. At fourth and goal, the final week was a long way from initial operating capability, which began in January 2010 with stand up of the 628th Air Base Wing. Countdown complete, JB CHS has arrived at FOC ready to enter the new fiscal year as a fully operational joint base. The inaugural day signifies a new chapter in Lowcountry military history at a time when senior U.S. military officials have said more is being asked of members of the Department of Defense than ever. Home to heroes of the wars of the 20th century and with history dating back to the Revolutionary War, the seeds of the change fell on fertile ground in Charleston and have taken root. JB CHS combines two historic bases into a single joint installation to support both Air Force and Navy missions, along with tenant commands, and all
service members and their families. Capitalizing on best practices of both services, the base will continue to capture identified efficiencies, enhance warfighting readiness and maximize delivery of installation support services throughout the joint base. Deservingly, inaugural day may come with sigh of relief for some, as a day to celebrate or a welcome opportunity to reflect on past accomplishments. However the men and women of JB CHS choose to greet the day, one man in particular sees possibilities beyond what is past or present. He calls the vision “continuous improvement.” Years from now, FOC celebrations long gone, what will be the greatest result of the joint basing venture is the people who’ve come and gone who can say they are better from it, and it from them, said Joint Basing Coordinator Lt. Col. Kevin Riley. His beat on the joint base scene began early on in May 2007, and he has observed nearly every challenge leading up to FOC. In his eyes, which have seen their fair share, the narrow road to that “true measure of success” parallels the path of continuous improvement for all of Joint Team Charleston.
Welcome to your new base paper Commentary by Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs Thank you for picking up a copy of the Patriot. It hasn't been easy, combining the Shoreline and the Airlift Dispatch. Each paper served its own unique audiences. But through hours of meetings and discussions, we have put together a publication that we hope will become a weekly reading habit for you. The purpose of a military newspaper is to provide information to our internal audience: military members and their families, retirees and our civilian workforce. It is a primary tool for
the commanding officer to get you the information deemed important. You are our audience, and with this in mind, the Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs staff will continue to provide you with the news you need to know to stay safe, advance your career and entertain your families. We'll also keep you informed about Air Force and Navy news worldwide that is of interest or can have an impact on us locally. Air Force and Navy Public Affairs have strict guidelines as to what goes into a base paper. Often times, it's a juggling act trying to decide which story will capture the most peoples' inter-
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est. Our job is to provide you with the news that you need to know, and hopefully, provide it in a way that you will look forward to reading, while at the same time, adhering to Air Force and Navy regulations. Although there are hundreds of events that happen on our joint base every week that are extremely noteworthy, only some can ultimately be considered newsworthy outside the small group of individuals they impact. As much as we would like to provide for every request we receive, it just isn't possible. If you have a question as to the type of events we cover, please don't hesitate to give us a call at 963-5608.
INSIDE SHOTS FIRED
Active shooter exercise steps up emergency response readiness See page 8
CELEBRATION JB CHS inaugural events at Redbank Club See page 3
IRON MAN
JB CHS pilot prepares for tough competition See page 14
DECALS No vehicles decals at Weapons Station See page 5
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