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Fairchild hosts first Single Airmen's Summit

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Natasha Stannard
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Fairchild is scheduled to hold a Single Airmen's Summit here Nov. 9 and 10.

The proposal for a Single Airmen's Summit was presented in April at a conference Stephen Pitters, 92nd Medical Operations Squadron social worker, attended. This conference discussed the personal well-being of Airmen, which rooted idea of an Airmen's Summit.

The vision of the summit is to give single Airmen the opportunity to develop initiatives addressing their needs and wants to make their lives and jobs here more meaningful and valuable.

The expectation for most bases was to host the summits in 2010; however, Fairchild set plans into motion in August to prepare for the first Single Airmen's Summit here, Mr. Pitters said.

"Why wait until next year-let's have our own Single Airmen's Summit here, now and find out exactly what single Airmen really think," Mr. Pitters said.

Upon return from this conference, Mr. Pitters said he presented the Single Airmen's
Summit initiative to Chief Master Sgt. David Nordel, 92 Air Refueling Wing Command Chief, and developed the notion of having two single Airmen nominated as core team members of the Integrated Delivery System team, which is a coalition of Team Fairchild agencies whose primary responsibility is to develop plans for community outreach and prevention programs, planning the event.

Airman 1st Class Whitney Zant, 92nd Aero Medical Dental Squadron, and Airman 1st Class Shelley Laplante, 92nd Maintenance Squadron, are the two Airmen nominated by their First Sergeants to set the tone for this event with leadership positions as core group members setting up the summit. Airman Laplante is the chairman and Airman Zant is the secretary.

Both Airmen have had crucial roles in forming this event. Airman Zant said she met with Chief Nordel to develop key discussion areas for Airmen to build ideas off of at the summit.

"Airman Laplante has had a huge influence because she comes up with the all the topics discussed at the meetings," Airman Zant said.

Much like these two Airmen, others at the summit will be in a position to share information with leadership that is going to help enhance the Fairchild environment.

Their thoughts, ideas and concerns will be used to guide the command's focus on issues with in "the personal whole life" universal to single Airmen here, which include: Community, safety, leisure, family, base support system, personal growth, and work and relationship concerns.

"We are affording Airman the opportunity to say and do the things that you would like to do to impact your life here," Mr. Pitters said.

Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century will train Airmen in problem solving methodology giving them the resources to create initiatives on PowerPoint presentations to develop solutions for each area of the personal whole life.

"AFSO21 helps articulate how to present what you think is needed," Mr. Pitters said.

"Each area will have an AFSO21 facilitator, who will take you through the brainstorming process to evolve initiatives."

Airmen will go through the process to determine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats found in each area of life to find the most pressing concerns. Airmen may be surprised to find that concerns they feel are exclusive to them are the contrary and appeal to the masses, Mr. Pitters said.

"Let us know what you want and how you want it so we can add our part to what you want, in other words you are the guide," Mr. Pitters said. "We need the information so you can enhance life here and now and enhance it for all those who come after you."
Without communication only assumptions can be made, which aren't always correct, said Pat Nordel, core team member and wife of 92nd Air Refueling Wing Command Chief.

"We assume that Airmen want certain things based on what we see, such as technological communication," Mrs. Nordel said. "For instance, we always assume that Airmen like to text and one of the first times we got together we found that they want to be talked to face-to-face."

The floor is open for discussion, ideas that may seem unfeasible need to be addressed because there are possible solutions out there, said Mr. Pitters.

"You're setting the road map that's going to help a lot of other persons and going to guide the base to a better way of being," said Mr. Pitters.