JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C –
Finding the time to volunteer in the local community while at home can be challenging, but finding the time to volunteer while deployed, almost impossible.
Members of the 15th Airlift Squadron, who are currently deployed to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan are finding the time and ways to give back to the country they are calling home for more than 120 days this year.
Senior Airman Thomas Farmer, a member of the 437th Operations Support Squadron who volunteered to deploy with the 15 AS and is the president of the First 4 Council at Manas AB, along with other members of his squadron, recently had the opportunity to visit the Birdkik School and the Bishkek School for the Deaf, where during these visits the Airmen socialize with the children and the school administrators, share stories over meals and play sports.
How do opportunities like this come about?
"We found out about this when we were in-processing and it was briefed to us during our Right Start brief," said Master Sgt. Mark Harrison, who was the designated trip leader.
Wing leadership at the Transit Center created a network called the Theater Security Cooperation, said Airman Farmer. The purpose of the network is to build a partnership capacity with the local Kyrgyz leadership.
"One method of building a partnership capacity is to provide much needed humanitarian assistance to local villages, schools and orphanages," said Airman Farmer.
After the group returned from their visit, it was Airman Farmer's job to put together a trip report.
"Within 24 hours of the visit, a trip report is submitted to the TSC leadership to include activities, observations and requests supplied by the school," he said. "The trip reports are used by the TSC to submit proposals to the general officers who decide on the funding of large humanitarian assistance projects."
On the wish list for the schools; it's maps and English textbooks for the Birdkik School, while the Bishkek School for the Deaf is looking for beds, dining tables, bathroom renovations and an updated playground, to name a few items.
It was through another volunteer effort that Airman Farmer realized how much the schools appreciated the assistance.
"I saw how lives of the children, and through them, entire communities could be drastically changed through simply meeting with our local Kyrgyz partners and writing a report," he said. "There is money waiting to be used for renovations of schools, community centers and orphanages."
While the current flying schedules make it difficult for aircrew members to volunteer for assistance trips, Airman Farmer and Sergeant Harrison have been able to work with other trip leaders to reserve spots for aircrew members.
What was the result?
"1st Lt. John McDaniel, a pilot with the 15 AS and Airman 1st Class Steven Doubler, a 15 AS loadmaster were able to go with a team to an orphanage in the town of Nizhanchuiskoe, where they delivered a van full of donated goods to include clothing, shoes and school supplies," said Airman Farmer.
Another effort resulted in Master Sgt. Terry Wright, 16th Airlift Squadron loadmaster and Capt. Timothy Cox, a 15 AS pilot being able to attend a luncheon with a group of Babushkas, also known in the Manas community as grandmothers.
These examples are just a few of the outstanding volunteer efforts Charleston Airmen are finding the time to do.
"We have a busy schedule here but several others from the 15 AS have volunteered, whether it be with on base support for upcoming trips or going on the trips themselves," said Sergeant Harrison. "This is huge here and is on everyone's scope. Airmen from all units in the wing here are out volunteering with the Manas Air Base Outreach Society on a weekly basis, it is actually hard at times to get on the trips because they fill up so fast."
With the squadron just a little more than half way through their deployment, it's clear these Airmen have worked hard to leave their footprints in the local surrounding communities.
"It is a pretty amazing feeling to be able to help, especially at a deployed location," said Sergeant Harrison. "The locals here see it as our commitment to the area and our support means a lot when they see we are willing to take the step beyond our daily work and assist them to help make the area a better place than when we arrived."