Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Vol. 5, No. 47
Patriot Team Charleston – One Family, One Mission, One Fight!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Training for disaster
Airman 1st Class Gregory Emond, 628th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management apprentice, checks an Airman's chemical suit during a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives training course Dec. 3, 2014, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C. After Air Force Basic military training, active-duty Airmen are required to go through CBRNE refresher training every two years.
Airmen suit up for CBRNE
Story and photos by Senior Airman Marianique Santos 1st Combat Camera Squadron
Twenty-nine Airmen from various units at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., underwent chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives training here, Dec. 3, 2014. The CBRNE refresher course, facilitated by the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron Emergency Management Flight, ensures Airmen are capable of responding and recovering from chemical or conventional attacks - at home station or deployed locations. After basic military training, the Air Force requires active-duty Airmen to go through CBRNE training every two years. "In the instance that something happens while I'm deployed,
where I'll be required to wear my mission oriented protective gear, I'll know exactly what to do," said training participant Senior Airman Gloria Davis-Phillips, 437th Maintenance Group maintenance data analyst. "The training was very informative and refreshed my memory since the last time I've had this training." Along with familiarization donning chemical gear, areas of focus included Post-Attack Reconnaissance routes and procedures, identification of chemical agents, decontamination, zone transition points and reporting findings to the unit control center. "In a PAR route, Airmen are looking for four things," said Airman 1st Class Gregory Emond, 628th CES emergency management apprentice. "We suggest using the acronym DUCC, See CBRNE, Page 3
Senior Airman Gloria Davis-Phillips, 437th Maintenance Group maintenance data analyst, puts on her chemical suit during a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high-yield explosives training course Dec. 3, 2014, at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
17th AS assists S.C. National Guard in locating downed Black Hawk
By Trisha Gallaway 628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
What began as a local training mission for an aircrew from the 17th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., quickly turned into a search for a downed helicopter. When Maj. Matthew Scheulen and Capt. Nicholas Coblio, 17th AS pilots, climbed into the cockpit of their C-17 Globemaster III, on Dec. 3, 2014, they were prepared for a mission that included an aerial refueling, an assault landing and airdrop training. What the crew was not prepared for was that they would soon be called upon to assist in the search for a downed South Carolina National Guard Blackhawk helicopter. "Around the time of the incident, we had just completed our airdrop training and were preparing to land [at North Field] to pick up our passengers." said Scheulen.
Gate closures slated for December 13 for maintenance/inspection
INSIDE
The 628th Civil Engineer Squadron has coordinated a closure of the Dorchester and Rivers Gates with the 628th Security Forces Squadron for Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, to perform quarterly preventative maintenance and inspection of the active vehicle barrier and cat claws. The Dorchester Gate will be closed from 7:30 to 10 a.m. Inbound/outbound lanes will be closed and traffic will be routed through the Commissary Gate during this time. Signs will be posted on Hill Blvd. and O'Neal Ave directing traffic to the Commissary Gate. The Rivers Gate will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Only one lane will be closed at a time for maintenance; inbound/outbound traffic will utilize the free lane with direction of 628th Security Forces personnel.
National Security Cutter commissioned
HAMILTON
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According to Scheulen, aircrews listen to a number of radio frequencies while flying, and one of those is the Columbia Approach Control when operating locally. It was on this frequency the aircrew heard a call go out. "We heard a South Carolina National Guard helicopter calling in with some in-flight malfunctions," said Scheulen. "We offered to assist in any way possible, but at that time our assistance wasn't needed." But shortly after that initial call, Scheulen and his crew heard a much different transmission go out over the radio. "We heard the helicopter pilot make a radio call with a very different tone of voice; that he would not be able to make it to an airport and was 'going down' in a field near a highway," said Scheulen. "We again offered our assistance and this time Columbia Approach Control gave us an immediate vector to his last known position." After 30 to 40 minutes, the aircrew, along with another aircraft in the area, located the helicopter at the same time. "From overhead, it looked like the helicopter hit quite hard, digging a trench in the field ... but no debris or fire," Scheulen said. "As we were departing the area, after we were no longer needed, we overheard from another S.C. National Guard helicopter that the crew was okay, which of course was a relief to us." According to the S.C. National Guard, the UH-60 Black Hawk, assigned to Detachment 2, Company F, 1-171st General Support Aviation Battalion, made an emergency landing after experiencing a main rotor blade malfunction. While first responders were en route to the landing site, the S.C. National Guard brought in another helicopter to airlift the helicopter crew out of the area. "They were able to quickly identify the crash site by identifying our aircraft circling overhead," said Scheulen. C-17 aircrews do not typically receive search and rescue training, so Scheulen and his crew had to rely on their combined experiences to complete this unexpected mission. "Our entire crew was highly experienced in a number of different aircraft, and looking back on it, I was almost surprised at how quickly and seamlessly everyone just made it happen," said
628th ABW officials plan for 2015
PRIORITIES
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Tree lightings held on AB/WS
HOLIDAY SPIRIT Pages 6
Scheulen. "Even without any truly formal training for something like this we came up with a plan and executed it well."
U.S. Army photo / Sgt. Brian Calhoun
A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned the 2-238th General Support Aviation Battalion, S.C. Army National Guard, sling-loads a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the 1-171st General Support Aviation Battalion, S.C. Army National Guard. after the Black Hawk made an emergency landing in an open field due to a main rotor blade malfunction, Dec. 3, 2014, near Columbia, S.C.
WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE for Joint Base Charleston, SC Sunny Friday, Dec. 12
(0% precip)
High 60º Low 35º
Sunny Saturday, Dec. 13
(0% precip)
High 61º Low 36º
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MAGENTA-OAOO
YELLOW-OOAO
BLACK 01/29/08
Partly Cloudy
Sunday, Dec. 14
(10% precip)
High 64º Low 38º