Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
Vol. 7, No. 23
Patriot Joint Base Charleston: ‘Launch Point For The Nation's Resolve’
December 16, 2016
ALZ repairs complete
U.S. Air Force Col. Jimmy Canlas, 437 Airlift Wing commander, middle right, and U.S. Air Force Col. Richard Mathews, 628th Mission Support Group commander, middle left, cut a banner marking the completion of repairs to the North Auxiliary Airfield Runway in North, South Carolina, Dec. 8, 2016. Repairs included approximately 21,000 tons of asphalt repurposed as the foundation below the new concrete, 66,000 linear feet of wire, a new runway lighting system and an additional 36,000 square yards of asphalt shoulder to the landing zone. See more photos at www.charleston.af.mil.
Story and photo by Airman 1st Class Kevin West Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
NORTH AUXILIARY AIRFIELD NORTH, SOUTH CAROLINA – Team Charleston marked the completion of runway repairs to the 3,500-foot runway, known as the assault landing zone (ALZ) at North Auxiliary Airfield in North, South Carolina, Dec. 8. North Auxiliary Airfield, a training facility geographically separated from Joint Base Charleston, is used for various types of flight training. “What’s crucial about Northfield is we train there every day and night,” said Nathaniel Watts, 437th Operations Support Squadron airfield manager. “Northfield is strictly for training. We drop cargo and have a landing zone to simulate being down range.” The ALZ, originally constructed of asphalt, had been deteriorating. The crumbling pavement created an increased risk of foreign-object damage necessitating repairs. Approximately 21,000 tons of asphalt from the old runway
was repurposed as the foundation below the new concrete. “Concrete is much stronger and will provide an improved platform for the C-17s to train on,” Rob Crossland, 628th Civil Engineer Squadron base pavements engineer. “The original landing zone was asphalt and over time the two layers of asphalt separated, deteriorated and began creating a foreignobject damage risk.” The construction project also included adding 66,000 linear feet of wire, a new runway lighting system and more than 36,000 square yards of asphalt shoulder to the landing zone. Assault landing training prepares pilots for real challenges. The 3,500-foot runway is used to train pilots to land in austere locations with unfinished or shorter runways. “Imagine we are in a warzone somewhere and there are limited resources available to build a runway,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Caleb Morris, 14th Airlift Squadron pilot. “Say the Army needs troops, equipment or a tank immediately and in a very small space. They can give us a call here at Charleston.” Assault landings require the aircraft to touch down on the runway within 500 feet and come to a complete stop on the remain-
ing 3,000 feet. The purpose is to land in a small zone quickly. “In the real world we want to have the skills and the confidence to land the aircraft, with any cargo, in a very small, precise space,” said Morris. “That is why we practice.” Having the ALZ provides JB Charleston pilots the opportunity to train on a realistically sized runway. The training can be simulated on a full-size runway by marking the abridged distance with chalk but Morris said it isn’t quite the same as landing on an authentic 3,500-foot runway. "This runway is vital to our training and we're excited to have our assault strip fully operational again," said U.S. Air Force Col. Jimmy Canlas, 437th Airlift Wing commander. "Thank you to everybody who was a part of the repair project, in particular the 628th Contracting Squadron and the 628th Civil Engineering Squadron. Their work was instrumental in getting the work completed ahead of schedule and the assault strip looks better than ever! The assets here at North Auxiliary Airfield are an essential part of keeping our aircrews ready to provide safe, precise, and reliable rapid global mobility in a moment's notice."
The Force is with JB Charleston’s Storm Troopers Story and photos by Airman 1st Class Megan Munoz Joint Base Charleston Public Affairs
Airman’s pet helps base patients
PAW-SITIVE
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Offering spouses career portability
LICENSING
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Charleston AF Base through the years
TIME TRAVEL
Next Issue of the Patriot: January 6, 2017
INSIDE
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA – Team Charleston’s Storm Troopers, children who had parents on ride-out teams during Hurricane Matthew, were recognized during a ceremony at the Airman and Family Readiness Center here, Dec. 8. Nearly 23,000 base employees and their families evacuated Charleston Oct. 5, leaving a ride-out team of about 400 members to continue the base’s mission. Seventeen children received certificates during the ceremony for their resiliency and remaining calm, focused and ready during the storm. The children also watched a video highlighting the ride-out team members and pointed out their parents when they appeared on the screen. “Without a doubt, our military children are some of the bravest in the world,” said Master Sgt. Robert Smith, Airman and Family Readiness Center NCO in charge. “When Colonel Lyman gave the order to evacuate, we saw the mission that remained. We wanted to say thanks to all the spouses and children who left their loved ones here to continue the mission.” Because of the storm, many families evacuated to other parts of South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. The Emergency Family Assistance Center provided disaster relief contingency information and services for evacuated personnel and families when they returned. Staff Sgt. Donald McKeown, 628th Air Base Wing command post controller, remained behind while his family evacuated to Greenville, South Carolina two days before the hurChildren who had parents on ride-out teams during Hurricane Matthew, hold up certificates for ricane hit Charleston. McKeown evacuated after helping coordinate the evacuation of 28 remaining calm, focused and ready during the storm with Joint Base Charleston leadership during C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. a ceremony at the Airman and Family Readiness Center here, Dec. 8, 2016. Nearly 23,000 base “My daughters did a great job keeping calm throughout the hurricane,” said employees and their families evacuated Charleston Oct. 5, leaving a ride-out team of approximately McKeown. 400 members to continue the base’s mission. McKeown said his wife and children, three and seven-years old, had been through tropical storms before but never a major hurricane. “Tonight we recognized the children for being brave and helping their families during the “A lot of times we celebrate parents for what they do but we don’t always get the chance evacuation while a parent stayed here. These kids are an important part of our team, they serve to say thanks to their children,” said Col. Robert Lyman, Joint Base Charleston commander. with us.
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WEEKEND WEATHER UPDATE for Joint Base Charleston, SC
Friday, December 16
Mostly Sunny
(0% precip)
High 51º Low 44º
Mostly Sunny
Saturday, December 17
(20% precip)
High 74º Low 62º
Extended Forecast
Mostly Sunny
Sunday, December 18
(10% precip)
High 79º Low 51º
Mon. - December 19 54°/39° - Showers (60%) Tue. - December 20 49°/40° - Showers (60%) Wed. - December 21 61°/50° - Mostly Cloudy (20%) Thur. - December 22 70°/56° - Partly Cloudy (20%) Fri. - December 23 66°/51° - Mostly Cloudy (10%)
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