Community service enriches NCO Academy experience

Published May 16, 2006
By Mara Minwegen
377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- There are plenty of volunteer activities on base and in the community, but with a new class arriving every seven weeks, the Noncommissioned Officer Academy has to be creative to come up with new ideas and opportunities.

Students and staff aren't required to participate in community service projects and they give up considerable amounts of free time to do so. The Academy provides the opportunities with the idea that NCOs, first as classes in the Academy and later as individuals, will continue to pursue the goal of being ambassadors to the community as Air Force members, Tech. Sgt. Matt Moore, NCO Academy flight instructor, said.

"We encourage folks to get out of their units and get involved in their community," he said.

One of the most recent volunteer activities involved the NCO Academy staff during a week's break between classes. On April 12, they gave up a day to help the students of Legacy Christian Academy, a small private school in its first year, participate in the Presidential Physical Fitness Challenge program.

Sergeant Moore had given up his lunch hour once a week for several months to help the students prepare for the testing day. The 75 first through sixth graders arrived by bus with their principal and spent the day with NCO Academy staff.

As the students did push-ups, sit-ups and the mile run, academy staff members stayed with each class to guide them through and record the statistics that were sent to the Presidential Council on Fitness.

After the physical fitness part of the day, students were treated to lunch and a tour of the 58th Special Operations Wing, where they were allowed to go inside a helicopter and a cargo plane.

Legacy Christian Academy principal Martha Fitch was as impressed as her students with the efforts of the NCO Academy.

"It couldn't have been done any better. They were very generous with their time and we are very appreciative. It was tremendously successful for us," she said.

Chief Master Sgt. Larry Gonzales, NCO Academy Commandant, also made a big impression on the students.

"Chief Master Sgt. Gonzales gave them a talk and really put it on their level," Ms. Fitch said.

The most recent community service project was organized by Sergeant Moore and attended by Chief Master Sergeant Gonzales as the staff representative April 29. NCO Academy class 06-4 contributed 35 members to the effort. This time, it was the Little Sisters of the Poor in Gallup who provided the opportunity to serve.

The charitable organization receives 100 percent of its funding by donation and cares for the low income, elderly individuals. In March, another class had gone to Gallup to help the sisters and noticed that two of their buildings were especially in need of paint and repair. By the end of the day on this most recent trip, that mission was accomplished.

Because there is so much need evident in connection with the "Begging Sisters" as they are called, the NCO Academy intends to make it a part of future community service efforts.

"Of all the activities I've been involved in, in my career, that was the most gratifying because you can see the impact that it makes," Sergeant Moore said about his work with the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Sergeant Moore thinks that community service has a return far beyond the progress made in a day's work. The benefits to the individuals who make that extra effort and give the time have long-lasting effects.

"It generates a strong sense of community. It's easy to get focused on the mission. When you have the opportunity to step outside, it's very gratifying and worthwhile to get outside the walls of your shop," he said.