315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Media Relations
Joint Base Charleston is a non-public news gathering forum and as such, all civilian media must have approval and an escort prior to entering the base. The 315th Airlift Wing PA Media Operations team typically makes arrangements to meet civilian media prior to their arrival at the main gate of Joint Base Charleston when they are covering the 315th AW mission or personnel. Media interested in covering 315th AW activities should call 843-963-2035 to arrange for an escort and for detailed information regarding upcoming media opportunities.

The office has a 24-hour on-call PA representative who can be reached by calling 843-696-2907. Media Relations facilitates engagement and two-way communication with the service members and the media, which is often one of the most rapid and credible means of delivering the commander’s message. Remaining open, honest, and accessible to the maximum extent possible normally results in greater accuracy, context, and timeliness in communicating with internal and external audiences. Personnel assigned to the 315th AW, whether permanent or deployed, will coordinate all official media requests and queries through the 315AW/PA office.

Capt. Shane Ellis, Public Affairs Officer
Command Information
315th Airlift Wing Command Information provides effective and efficient communication tools to link Airmen with their leaders. CI helps Airmen and their families understand their purpose, role, and value to the Air Force. A free flow of information to Airmen and their families creates awareness of and support for the mission, increases their effectiveness as Air Force ambassadors, reduces the spread of rumors and misinformation, and provides avenues for feedback.

Command Information programs include:

* All 315th AW Social Media products

* 315th AW Public Web page

* 315th AW mobile app

* Hometown News program

* Reserve photo studio support (official photos, award & package photos, passport, visa and gun card photos)

* News articles and photos for all 315th AW products as well, for AFRC, AF, DoD news websites, Citizen Airman Magazine and more.

The 315th AW photo studio is available for Reservists weekdays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., and during UTA weekends on Sundays from 8-11 a.m. For more information on the the 315 AW CI program or to request services call 843-963-2034.

*** NOTE: The alteration of official Department of Defense imagery is prohibited by DoD instructions. There are some exceptions; photographic techniques common to traditional darkrooms and digital imaging stations are allowed, such as dodging, burning, color balancing, spotting, and contrast adjustment. Other alterations must be noted as photo illustrations.

Michael Dukes, Command Information Chief
Community Relations
The 315th Airlift Wing's main community relations programs include:

(COVID-19 restrictions may apply)

* Honorary Commander Program

* Speaking Engagements

*** the following Community Relations programs are currently available on a limited basis

* Tours    (minimum tour age is 12 years old.)

* Tuskegee Airmen Career Day

* Women in Aviation Career Day

   * Mini C-17

Please contact the Community Relations section for information at 843-963-2036. It is our policy to support as many requests as possible as mission and budget conditions permit, but we are not always able to accommodate every request received.

For more information on the Community Relations program, check out AFI 35-105, Community Relations.

Our goal is to foster positive relations with the surrounding communities. Participation in community events by Air Force personnel is desirable and highly encouraged; however, limitations of time, money and mission requirements may make it impossible to grant all requests.

Joann Gillespie, Community Relations Chief

We are proud to offer two separate programs for young men and women in the Lowcountry. The 315th Airlift Wing Women in Aviation & Tuskegee Airmen Committee sponsors two career days, one in February for young men high-school, and one in March for young women in high school. The Women in Aviation Career Day began in 2007 and the Tuskegee Airmen Career Day began in 2015.

Each career day brings just over 100 students from Lowcountry schools to Joint Base Charleston where they have the opportunity to tour a C-17 Globemaster III and speak to aircrew members about the various jobs available to them. There is also a career fair in one of the aircraft hangars where representatives of many different aviation career fields talk to attendees. Another stop along the career day includes a tour of Joint Base Charleston's field training flight where attendees get to see various components of a C-17 used to train aircraft maintainers. Both career days also have a guest speaker each year. Past notables include, the first African-American female to fly a fighter jet during combat in a major war and a few members of the Tuskegee Airmen.

During the Women in Aviation event there is an essay contest with scholarship prizes for the young ladies. Similar options are being explored for the young men as well.

Our Women in Aviation career day encourages women to seek career opportunities in aviation and to commemorate Women's History Month. According to a 2017 statistic from the Federal Aviation Administration, of the nearly 609,306 active pilots in the United States, only about seven percent are women and women account for almost 30 percent of the more than 671,222 non-pilot aviation jobs in the United States.

Our Tuskegee Airmen career day encourages young men to explore opportunities in aviation and to commemorate African American history month. Tuskegee Airmen were instrumental to victory over Germany during World War II, they also represent other victories as well. The 996 African American pilots and more than 15,000 ground personnel who served with these units flew more than 15,500 combat sorties and earned more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses.

For photos and details from past events visit the wing's facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/315AW or the committee's facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/JBCWIA .

The Social Media Guide is available for download to help Air Force leaders, Airmen and families share information effectively while following Air Force instructions and protecting operations security. These simple, easy-to-follow tips will help you use social media in your professional and personal life. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not replace official Air Force policy.