Large C-17 formation to take off from Joint Base Charleston on Wednesday

A multi-ship C-17 formation is scheduled to take off Wednesday morning, April 10, to conduct a variety of training missions.

Up to 21 C-17s will take off in the morning and will depart on a training route that will include airdrops, aerial refueling and low level tactical training.

The exercise has been coordinated with the Charleston County Aviation Authority and will not delay regularly scheduled flights at Charleston International Airport.

This large formation exercise (LFE) is a total-force effort with aircrews consisting of active-duty Airmen from the 437th Airlift Wing and Reservists from the 315th Airlift Wing. The last LFE was conducted in 2010. This exercise is not in response to real-world events.

Wednesday’s event will complete over 600 training requirements and will maintain mission readiness. LFEs are an efficient method of training C-17 Globemaster III aircrew, maintenance and support Airmen on a wide variety of requirements in a short period of time.

These skills are needed at all times to ensure the Joint Base Charleston team can move large amounts of forces, cargo or passengers when called upon or when ordered to evacuate due to an incoming hurricane.

"The skills we test today are the same skills we would use to provide our country’s response to a crisis or a conflict anywhere in the world," said Col. Trevor Nitz, 437th Operations Group commander. "Despite current challenges, Airmen are obligated to maintain mission readiness and stand ready to deliver our country’s resolve."

North Charleston to Host Free Concert by USAF Academy Band’s Falconaires Jazz Ensemble

The City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department is proud to host a free evening concert by the United States Air Force Academy Band’s Falconaires Jazz Ensemble at the Sterett Hall Auditorium on the former Charleston Naval Base on Friday, October 19, at 7:00pm. The concert will feature big band jazz under the leadership of Master Sergeant Jason Crowe.

As one of twelve Air Force jazz ensembles, the Falconaires have brought the great sounds of big band jazz to national audiences for more than 50 years. The 18 professional Airmen-musicians in the “Glenn Miller” style big band follow in a long blue line of talented Air Force Academy bandsmen who are dedicated to serving our nation and representing the young officers in training at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, CO. The ensemble specializes in the best of past and present by performing traditional and contemporary big band jazz. To this mix, “Falcs” members add their own compositions and fresh orchestrations. The band performs annually for more than 50,000 people at civic and military functions, public concerts, and festivals, including the International Association of Jazz Educators’ National Conference, the Music Educators National Conference’s National Convention, and Musicfest Canada. A driving force in the jazz world, the Air Force Academy Band’s Falconaires play a major role in cultivating our national heritage through America’s only indigenous musical genre, jazz.

The Falconaires Jazz Ensemble concert is free, but advance tickets are required. Tickets may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope with request to: Tickets, City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, PO Box 190016, North Charleston, SC, 29419-9016. Please limit 6 tickets per mail-in request. Tickets are also available for pick up Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm, from the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department office on the second floor of North Charleston City Hall, located at 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, SC 29406. Unclaimed seats will be available to non-ticket holders 15 minutes prior to concert time.

For more information about this concert or other programs and services offered by the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, call 843-740-5854, email culturalarts@northcharleston.org, or visit http://bit.ly/culturalarts.

USAF Heritage of America Band to Present Free Concert in North Charleston

Performance presented in Honor of Armed Forces Day

The United States Air Force Heritage of America Concert Band, from Langley AFB, VA, will recognize Armed Forces Day with a memorable evening of musical entertainment at the Sterett Hall Auditorium on the former Charleston Naval Base on Saturday, May 21, 2011, at 7:00 pm. The 90 minute concert will feature the full 50-piece orchestra and includes John Philip Sousa’s military and patriotic marches as well as heritage themed musical selections.

The Concert Band is the largest musical component of the USAF Heritage of America Band. Formed in 1941, the band entertains one million people each year in over 500 performances. They have performed for several Presidents of the United States, the President of France, and the Queen of England. Additionally, the band has been presented numerous mayoral proclamations and has earned the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the Air Force Organizational Excellence Award, and the Colonel George S. Howard Citation of Musical Excellence Award.

TICKET INFORMATION
The Armed Forces Day concert is free, but advance tickets are required. Tickets may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Tickets, City of North Charleston Cultural Arts Department, PO Box 190016, North Charleston, SC, 29419-9016. Please limit 6 tickets per mail-in request. Tickets are also available for pick up Monday through Friday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm, from the North Charleston Cultural Arts Dept. office on the 2nd floor of North Charleston City Hall, located at 2500 City Hall Lane, North Charleston, SC 29406. Unclaimed seats will be available to non-ticket holders 15 minutes prior to concert time.

For more information, contact the North Charleston Cultural Arts Department at (843) 740.5854 or email culturalarts@northcharleston.org.