The 315th Airlift Wing, together with our active duty wing, the 437th Airlift Wing provides a large part of Air Mobility Command's Global Reach airlift capability. This rapid, flexible and responsive air mobility promotes stability in regions by keeping America's capability and character highly visible.

THE MISSION: To provide and deliver global combat-ready C-17 airlift, expeditionary combat support and aeromedical evacuation anytime, anywhere.

VISION: AFRC's wing of choice...integrated, experienced, relevant.

ORGANIZATION: The 315th AW has three major functional areas and nineteen subordinate units, which operate under the direction of three group commanders. These areas are operations, logistics, and support and aeromedical evacuation.

AIRCRAFT: Charleston is home to 51 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. A C-17 crew consists of pilot, co-pilot, and loadmaster. Cost per unit is approximately $202.3 million. The C-17 has a cruise speed of 518 m.p.h. at 28,000 feet (Mach .74). It also has a global range with in-flight refueling. Its maximum load is 170,000 pounds, and it can fit two large buses, three helicopters, one of the Army's newest tanks or other outsized cargo. In addition it features heads-up display, can airdrop both cargo and 102 paratroopers, and is able to land on small, austere airfields--landing in as short as 3,000 feet. Aircrews of the 315th AW fly this aircraft which is assigned to the 437th AW.

PERSONNEL: The 315th AW is authorized 2,330 Reservists (356 officers and 1,974 enlisted); of these 282 are Air Reserve Technicians (36 officers and 246 enlisted). Actual assigned: 2,524 reservists and 71 civilian personnel (including students) and 1 AGR.

BASE FACTS: Charleston AFB is a joint-use airfield, sharing two intersecting runways with Charleston International Airport. The primary runway is 9,001 feet long and the intersecting runway is 7,000 feet long. The base maintains the two runways and most of the taxiways, and security and crash rescue response for all flights.

Charleston AFB was the first fully operational C-17 base in the Air Force. The base is constantly involved in the Denton Amendment program flying humanitarian aid on available missions to worldwide destinations in more than 13 countries. From October 1, 2001 to September 30, 2002, the Denton program moved 428,534 lbs in 25 missions.

Charleston AFB either prepared or moved 80 percent of the cargo for the Denton program. Charleston has seven 60-K Tunner loaders that can easily transport and load heavy, palletized cargo on all aircraft. Additionally, Charleston AFB has more than 6,300 computers and 643 government owned vehicles