JAN. 7, 2014 — Col. Darren E. Hartford, Commander, 437th Airlift Wing Joint Base treated our membership to an engaging presentation as part of our military speaker series. Hartford has commanded multiple refueling squadrons including two in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Among other distinguished posts, he has served on the Joint Staff and the USAF Headquarters’ Staff. The colonel has accumulated over 4,000 flying hours in C5, C17 and KC135 aircraft and has been honored with numerous awards for his exemplary service.
Hartford provided a mission brief, overview and window into the lives of the airmen who serve under his command in the 437th Airlift Wing. The group’s mission is to “provide precise, reliable airlift worldwide”. This mission is achieved in short by fixing, filling and flying aircraft. The organization’s vision is to “continue as the Nation’s Airlift Wing of Choice… leading through Excellence and Innovation!” The colonel emphasized innovation as an important foundation of the Air Force and core piece of its identity. Despite budgetary challenges, he affirmed the 437th Airlift Wing’s commitment to that legacy.
Our Rotary Club members and neighbors can often observe some of the 2,500 airmen operating one of the fifty or more C17 aircraft the colonel commands in the skies above Charleston. In fact, the C17 was first delivered right here in Holy City back in 1993. This “native son” aircraft offers extraordinary capabilities to our armed forces.
Hartford described how a C17 can take off from Charleston, land on a dirt airstrip in Afghanistan and deliver critical supplies such as mine resistant vehicles (MRAP’s) weighing as much as 126 tons. This ability to fly incredibly long distances with heavy loads and land in remote hazardous conditions has also made the aircraft extremely valuable in humanitarian missions. For example, the C-17 and 437th Airlift delivered over 10,000 lbs of supplies to aid Haitian earthquake victims in 2010.
Hartford was no less proud and for good reason when he spoke about the men and women who make up the 437th Airlift Wing. He described the airmen’s passionate involvement with the Miracle League, a voluntary sports organization which offers an outlet for play to disabled youth. He went on to describe a female soldier who was able to break down cultural barriers to establish lasting connections with brave Afghan soldiers whom the 437th Airlift was training. “People are the foundation of mission success”, he stated.
In closing, Hartford left us with a poignant comparison to ponder. The Colonel explained that the runway was the 437th’s tie to the Charleston community. He went on to describe how each rock in the runway adds strength to the structure. In this way, the rocks are a metaphor for the people of Charleston who add strength to the community. He compared the cement that binds the rocks to the relationships that bind our community. Together, he said, the two create a strong foundation that he hopes will last for another 50 years and beyond.
—Submitted by Will Thames, Keyway Staff