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harleston AFB, S.C. imported the maintenance group commander from Dover AFB, Del., and maintainers from around the country to help it “lean” down its C-17 home station check process. A1C Nicholas Pilch reports that with the help of Col. Robert Hamm and other maintenance specialists, the Charleston aircraft maintainers are on the way toward halving the time it takes to conduct an inspection every C-17 gets every 120 days when it is at its home station—hence the term home station check. Already the Charleston team has cut 11 hours out of the 101-hour process and has developed a way to eliminate another 32 hours.
Congress Passes $839 Billion Budget for Defense
Feb. 3, 2026
Congress officially passed the fiscal 2026 defense spending bill Feb. 3 after a House of Representatives vote, approving $839 billion in Pentagon funding and sending the package to President Donald Trump for his signature.
