AFLCMC Airmen give back to Dayton, Ohio school students

  • Published
  • By Allyson B. Crawford and TSgt Matthew Fredericks, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center Public Affairs
DAYTON, Ohio (AFLCMC) - Wednesday, May 25 was a special day for students at Edison Elementary near the historic Wright-Dunbar neighborhood in Dayton, Ohio, and not just because it was the last day of school. Airmen with the Special Programs Division within the Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate (AFLCMC/WAG) volunteered to pitch in and make the day extra fun. Edison hosted a field day for students and members of the WAG team helped execute the event. The Airmen pitched in because Edison gets little parental volunteer support. 

The WAG team has volunteered at Edison before, so the field day was a chance to make the partnership stronger. The school is close to Wright-Patterson AFB. 
 
"People in our organization really enjoy it," explains Capt Tyler Wallis of the WAG team's involvement with Edison. "It's good to get out and see people in the community."

Several zip codes in the city of Dayton are considered food insecure with residents in financial need. Edison sits in one of those zip codes. For WAG contracting officer Amber Yates, helping out is not just about giving back to those in need. It is also about building a stronger work team. 

"It's just so good to take care of those who are less fortunate than us," says Yates. "Every day I come to work and I feel so thankful that I get to come to this amazing job and give back to my country and we all feel super passionate about protecting the Warfighter. We should start local in serving our country and focus on serving our communities and making the impact where we can. I think it's just amazing that we have the ability to do so and the leadership that allows us to do it." 

While the students got physical exercise running races and kicking balls, the WAG Airmen worked out some different muscles. The team bonded over the event and Yates hopes to make the field day an annual affair. She encourages other Air Force organizations to pick a teambuilding event that gives back to the community if possible. 

Col Jeff Hamblin, WAG director of special projects, agrees with Yates about the bonding opportunities that volunteering provides. 

"Having volunteered at the school for another event, we just saw the impact that an organization could have and it's also a great way for our organization to get out of the office [and] do something different but also have a team bonding experience with ourselves and the community. My favorite part [of the day] was just watching the kids have a good time, interact with us, and ask us questions and just have a great time on a great day," adds Hamblin.