10-08-2010 The Patriot (Joint Base Charleston)

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Joint Base Charleston

Patriot Vol. 1, No. 2

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

Friday, October 8, 2010

U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Timothy Taylor

Navy Rear Adm. Tim Alexander talks about the history of Naval Weapons Station Charleston at the Joint Base Charleston inaugural ceremony Oct. 1, 2010, on the JB CHSWeapons Station. Other guest speakers and distinguished guests included 18th Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, 628th Air Base Wing Commander Col. Martha Meeker, 628 ABW Deputy Commander Navy Capt. Ralph Ward, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham and U.S. Congressman Henry Brown. Admiral Alexander is the Naval Region Southeast Commander. See more photos on page 14-15.

Air Force, Navy officials commemorate, celebrate JB CHS inauguration By Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs Two historic Lowcountry military installations merged and were officially inaugurated as the Department of Defense military installation Joint Base Charleston, Oct. 1. The inauguration of the joint base marks its full operational capability and is the final step in the stand-up of JB CHS. The joint base achieved Initial Operating Capability Jan. 31, 2010, after the activation of its host unit, the 628th Air Base Wing, Jan. 8, 2010. Services provided by the 628 ABW include base support provisions, such as housing and facilities maintenance, security, childcare, public works, communications, finance, logistics, medical support, personnel, public affairs, legal, food service, contracts and recreation. The restructuring of the base has also positioned naval port operations for the Weapons Station under the Air Force's 628th Logistics Readiness

Squadron and created a new command support unit, Naval Support Activity Charleston. NSA CHS is commanded by the JB CHS deputy commander, Navy Capt. Ralph Ward. The organizational structure of other the tenant units on JB CHS will remain unchanged. The arrival of FOC on JB CHS brought with it a refreshing order of the day Oct. 1 - ceremony and celebration. The invitation from Joint Base Commander Col. Martha Meeker, USAF and Captain Ward, was extended to the entire base and surrounding local community to join in open house festivities which followed the official inauguration. The celebration included live music by the U.S. Air Force Blue Aces and special guests, the U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Band, as well as military displays to showcase the base's capabilities. Eighteenth Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice and Navy Region Southeast Commander Rear Adm. Tim Alexander officiated the See JB CHS Inauguration, Page 3

INSIDE MEDAL OF HONOR

Living legends visit Lowcountry for MOH convention See page 5

BASE SHUTTLE 628 LRS begins trial period See page 4

FIRE PREVENTION

Full-court press is on as CFC cutoff nears Oct. 15 By Staff Sgt. Daniel Bowles Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs It's not too late to donate to the Combined Federal Campaign on Joint Base Charleston - but after Oct. 15 it will be. For members of Joint Base Charleston who haven't stepped up to the plate yet, the time to contribute is now, said Maj. Bill Skinner, base CFC project officer. The major oversees progress for both the Air Base and Weapons Station and said no matter who needs help donating, all it takes is a call to a unit representative or his office to get pointed in the right direction.

The CFC is the largest and most successful annual workplace charity campaign, with more than 300 CFC campaigns held worldwide to help raise millions of dollars each year. Aside from all the good the CFC brings to charities, there are also takeaways specific to military members, the major said. Military life and keeping on the move traditionally go hand-in-hand, said Major Skinner, so keeping a strong sense of community can be a challenge for military members. For that reason, the CFC committee on base worked to bring out local agencies to the recent JB CHS inaugural open house to help members connect with local organizations in need of support. Two of the organizations, See CFC Cutoff, Page 3

Joint Base Charleston Facebook Now Live!

Weapons Station hosts fair to educate community See page 8

CONSTRUCTION Red Bank Road undergoes renovation See page 6

- Follow Discussions, Connect With Your Base!


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