Get Involved

  • Published
  • By Maj. Robert B. Moore
  • 92nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Commander
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Over the past couple of months, I've noticed numerous "Fairchild All Announcements" soliciting volunteers to support various base and community activities and I'm amazed at how our Airmen and their families always answer the call! I review and sign over 400 performance reports a year, as well as numerous award packages, and I couldn't be more proud of what you're doing. My children learned how to play sports, dance, and do gymnastics thanks to those of you who volunteer. Your children learned these things also, along with critical skills and values through our Scout volunteers and had their spiritual needs filled at the Base Chapel and local churches all because of people who give up their free time.

We in the military give by serving our country all across the globe; however, through volunteerism we also contribute greatly back home. The value our Air Force places on giving back doesn't go unnoticed by our local community. Have you noticed that every professional military education course you attend has some sort of community involvement effort? Whether it's an Airman Leadership Class devoting a day to clean up the Spokane River or an Air Command and Staff College class spending a weekend helping Habitat for Humanity, community involvement is an ingrained military trait we can all be proud of.

Finding time to volunteer isn't always easy. You may be saying to yourself that there is no way you could possibly donate what precious spare time you have.. Granted, not everyone can be a Girl Scout/Boy Scout Troop Leader, youth group mentor, or pee-wee football coach; if you can, great! For the rest of us, there are numerous other ways to volunteer and still be able to put in a full day's work, spend time with the family, and study for that next test. There's a full range of opportunities out there that would allow you to give a couple of hours a week, a month, or even a year. As the renowned English statesman Edmund Burke said "nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."

The array of things you could do with those precious hours is astounding. Do you like to work with children? There's a youth group or scout troop out there that's just waiting for your call. Do you like to work with the elderly? I bet there's more than one hospice or retirement home in the area that would love it if you came out and called on some of their residents who don't get many visitors anymore. Do you like sports? You could help coach a pee-wee team or see if any of the local school teams could use your support. If you're interested in animals, you could donate your time to a shelter. If you're interested in the environment you could pick up trash or plant trees with one of the local environmental protection organizations. If you like to work with your hands, you could work with Habitat for Humanity or help out the single parent down the street from you who's become overwhelmed by minor household repairs. No matter where your interests lie, you can find an organization that will appeal to you.

Community involvement is a long-standing Air Force tradition. If you're not sure where to start, just ask your co-workers, supervisor or first sergeant. The odds are very good that they're either already involved with an organization themselves or they know someone who is that would be more than happy to show you the ropes.

The Spokane community has been a loyal and heartfelt supporter of Team Fairchild for many years. No matter how you choose to give back to the community, you'll find that the personal satisfaction you receive will be well worth the personal time you sacrifice. So get involved, you might stumble upon something to be passionate about!