Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      A C-17 Globemaster III takes off from the flightline at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Sept. 11, 2018Hurricane Florence
                        
                        
                        A C-17 Globemaster III takes off from the flight line at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Sept. 11, 2018. In anticipation of Hurricane Florence, more than 20 aircraft were evacuated from Charleston to designated safe locations in order to continue their global airlift operations.
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Airmen assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing load airplane seats onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Sept. 11, 2018.Joint Base Charleston Hurricane Florence
                        
                        
                        Airmen assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing load airplane seats onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Sept. 11, 2018. In anticipation of Hurricane Florence, more than 20 aircraft were evacuated from JB Charleston to designated safe locations in order to continue their global airlift operations. The C-17 flew to Joint Base Andrews, Md., before arriving at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., ahead of an international mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Lovelady)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Airmen assigned to the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron change a tire on a C-17 Globemaster III Sept. 13, 2018, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. 437th AMXS maintainers serviced more than 10 aircraft that were evacuated from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., to Scott AFB ahead of Hurricane Florence. In all, more than 20 C-17s and supporting personnel were evacuated to three designated safe locations, enabling them to continue their global airlift operations.180913-F-YA200-0007
                        
                        
                        Airmen assigned to the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron change a tire on a C-17 Globemaster III Sept. 13, 2018, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Maintainers serviced more than 10 aircraft that were evacuated from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., to Scott AFB ahead of Hurricane Florence. In all, more than 20 C-17s and supporting personnel were evacuated to three designated safe locations, enabling them to continue their global airlift operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Lovelady)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Airmen assigned to the 437th Aerial Port Squadron and 16th Airlift Squadron load a portable lavatory onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Sept. 11, 2018.Joint Base Charleston Hurricane Florence
                        
                        
                        Airmen assigned to the 437th Aerial Port Squadron and 16th Airlift Squadron load a portable lavatory onto a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Sept. 11, 2018. In anticipation of Hurricane Florence, more than 20 aircraft were evacuated from JB Charleston to various designated safe locations in order to continue their global airlift operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Lovelady)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Staff Sgt. Donald Kirby, a 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace maintainer, moves a tow bar into its storage position on a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Sept. 11, 2018.180911-F-YA200-0374
                        
                        
                        Staff Sgt. Donald Kirby, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron aerospace maintainer, moves a tow bar into its storage position on a C-17 Globemaster III at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., Sept. 11, 2018. In anticipation of Hurricane Florence, more than 20 aircraft were evacuated from JB Charleston to various designated safe locations in order to continue their global airlift operations. The C-17 flew to Joint Base Andrews, Md., before arriving at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., ahead of an international mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Lovelady)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Staff Sgt. Coleman Younger, a 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, performs a tire change on a C-17 Globemaster III Sept. 13, 2018, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. 437 AMXS maintainers serviced more than 10 aircraft that were evacuated from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., to Scott AFB ahead of Hurricane Florence. In all, more than 20 C-17s and supporting personnel were evacuated to designated safe locations, enabling them to continue their global airlift operations.180913-F-YA200-0257
                        
                        
                        Staff Sgt. Coleman Younger, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, performs a tire change on a C-17 Globemaster III Sept. 13, 2018, at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. Maintainers serviced more than 10 aircraft that were evacuated from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., to Scott AFB ahead of Hurricane Florence.
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

JB Charleston evacuates aircraft, maintains airlift capabilitiesPublished Sept. 14, 2018
                    
                    By Tech Sgt. Jonathan Lovelady
                    
                    
                    628th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
            **JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. (AFNS) --**Joint Base Charleston personnel assigned to the 437th Airlift Wing and 628th Air Base Wing began evacuation flights for 24 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft Sept. 11, 2018, in anticipation of Hurricane Florence.
The aircraft and supporting personnel planned and executed flights from JB Charleston to three designated safe locations within 48 hours of notification, a move designed to sustain the wing’s airlift capability. The aircraft were relocated to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, Mid America St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, and Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
In alignment with the limited evacuation order issued by Col. Terrence Adams, 628th ABW and JB Charleston commander, Col. Clint ZumBrunnen, 437th AW commander, made the decision to evacuate aircraft in order to protect valuable assets while allowing them to continue their previously scheduled missions.
“The safety of our service members and their families is our priority,” said Adams. “We’re following the lead of the governor of South Carolina and issuing a limited evacuation order. At the same time, it is our responsibility to continue our global airlift operations in support of the Department of Defense, our nation and our partners and allies. I have the utmost confidence that our Airmen will continue to execute their missions in an effective and professional manner.”
ZumBrunnen echoed Adams’ sentiment, adding that the evacuation and continuation of the mission required a team effort.
“It is a testament to how the team that I inherited works together,” said ZumBrunnen. “Essentially, within 36 hours of being told to go, we launched 24 aircraft, which includes maintenance and aerial port. The operations group came together to execute a plan that’s very complex, and within that period of time, we got every airplane out of here. We couldn’t do it without the air base wing [or] our partners in the 315th AW who had crews fly airplanes away for us.”
Lt. Col. Travis Elliott, 16th Airlift Squadron director of operations, not only led the execution phase of the aircraft evacuation effort, he also flew with a C-17 crew from JB Charleston to Scott AFB to ensure their readiness for any taskings received.
“It’s very important for the security of our personnel to get out of here, and get the aircraft out of here to make sure they don’t sustain any type of damage,” said Elliot. “It’s also important that we continue the mission as well, so we’re going to Scott [AFB] to continue the missions that we had already been scheduled for and evacuating aircraft allows us to do that. Plus, if there is any kind of recovery effort needed – of course, we hope there isn’t – we’ll be available to go and assist those folks.”
Having observed the mission planning process and one of the evacuation flights first-hand, Elliott expressed his amazement with the performance of everyone involved.
“In just over a day and a half, agencies across the entire base got these aircraft off the ground and that is absolutely amazing,” said Elliott. “It’s been a great experience, great folks to work with across the board.”
Staff Sgt. Andrea Jansen, a 16th Airlift Squadron loadmaster on Elliott’s flight, attributed the “seamless” execution of her crew’s evacuation to effective teamwork, coordination and planning from units across JB Charleston.
“I’m impressed with how flawlessly we were able to execute,” said Jansen. “A lot of what we do, we couldn’t do without the people that are supporting us [like] aerial port [and] maintenance. We can’t get off the ground without them. I’m really proud to be a part of the team that’s doing it.”
According to Jansen, getting off the ground means delivering “anything, anywhere, anytime, and providing support to people that need it.” However the work doesn’t end there. Her crew was scheduled to fly an overseas mission within days of arriving at Scott AFB. Back to back missions require extensive effort of the 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as well.
“It was really a testament to the capabilities of the individuals on both the [JB Charleston] side as well as the Scott Air Force Base side.” said Capt. Christie Taylor, 437th AMXS Blue Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge. “There was communication all throughout the night to make the mission happen and be ready to go the next day to be up in the air. It was really tremendous.”
The effort put forth by Scott AFB Airmen was a factor, which enabled her team to quickly get situated so they could focus on their mission and maintain readiness for the next phase of operations. Almost immediately after arriving, Taylor’s team began performing inspections and maintenance on more than 10 C-17s that relocated to Scott AFB, roughly half of the total evacuated.
“We have a potential for up to 14 aircraft and that’s because we have aircraft that came in from Charleston, but we’re also receiving missions here right now,” said Taylor. “We’re being fluid and flexible to be able to support not only the aircraft that left from Charleston, but the continuing missions that are still happening despite a hurricane.”
Taylor emphasized the importance of looking after the Airmen who look after the mission.
“It’s times like these where they’re unfortunate, but it’s really a time to appreciate what the Air Force does for our people,” said Taylor. “Not only are we taking care of resources and aircraft and continuing missions worldwide, but we have families that we’re calling out to – people who are deployed. It’s a time to be really proud of our Air Force and to see people coming together to make things happen. I’m really happy to be a part of that.”JB Charleston 



evacuate 



Aircraft 



hurricane 



Florence 



airlift 



capabilities 



maintain 



437th Airlift Wing 



628th Air Base Wing 



C-17 



Globemaster III 



Scott AFB 



AMC 



Air Mobility Command 



natural disaster Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil