Year of the Family comes to Offutt

  • Published
  • By Debbie Aragon
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  Although long recognized as a military service with exceptional commitment to families, Air Force senior leaders established this as the "Year of the Air Force Family." The year-long celebration is meant to show the service's desire to look for ways to improve in this area and not be satisfied with prior accomplishments, however successful.

In a July memorandum, Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz designated July 2009 to July 2010 as "Year of the Air Force Family." They also explained that the Air Force family is dynamic and diverse, made up of active-duty, Reserve and Guard component members; civilians, spouses and children and that it extends to parents, friends and community partners who support Airmen.

"During these 12 months, we will focus our attention on Air Force families - their hardships and needs, what we might do to make Air Force life more compatible with family life, and how we can build a greater sense of community across our force," Secretary Donley said during an Air Force Sergeants' Association meeting in August.

"The Air Force has long been recognized as the service for exceptional commitment to families. This reputation is well deserved, but will only continue through the dedicated effort and focus of our senior leaders. You can rest assured that taking care of families is a solemn promise we make to each Airman and family, and one that Chief (Master Sergeant of the Air Force Jim) Roy, General Schwartz and I each take very seriously," Secretary Donley added.

"From Department of Defense senior leaders to our most junior members stationed around the world, we've always known the importance of family in accomplishing the many unique and challenging missions our nation has asked us to undertake," said Brig. Gen. John N.T. Shanahan, 55th Wing commander. "Because of that, we do have a long tradition of taking care of people -- from our young children and spouses, to our active-duty personnel, and our many retirees in the area.

"Here at Offutt, we're honored to celebrate the Year of the Air Force Family. And, because of the wide variety of missions here, we're pleased to also welcome our Team Offutt Sailors, Soldiers and Marines and their families as part of our celebration," General Shanahan added.

The Year of the Air Force family celebration centers on four pillars of excellence; all four can be traced back to General Shanahan's mantra of People First, Mission Always and Safety Forever.

The first pillar, health and wellness, provides the foundation for a happy and productive life, General Shanahan explained.

From the Offutt Field House to the many spiritual growth opportunities offered through the base chapel, to the wide variety of mental health programs at the base clinic and the many on- and off-base educational opportunities designed to keep minds sharp, the Offutt community "is focused on boosting our overall well-being," he said.

"Laura and I know how important it is to find a healthy balance between physical, mental and spiritual well-being," General Shanahan said. "If any one side of that triangle gets out of balance, you and your family pay the price."

The second pillar is Airman and family support and encompasses everything from child and youth programs to deployment support and single Airman programs.

"We ask so much of our families today as they work long hours both here in the Heartland and across the globe," said Laura Shanahan, General Shanahan's wife. "We owe them our full support and encouragement every day, whether it is something as simple as taking a few minutes out of a busy day to teach a youngster how to kick a soccer ball or throw a baseball, or caring for a newborn in one of our superb child development centers."

The third pillar is education, development and employment.

Education never stops, General Shanahan emphasized.

"The older we get, the more we realize how much we still have to learn," he said.

In addition to education for those who wear the uniform, General Shanahan explained that family members deserve the same opportunity to expand their horizons whether it is in a self-improvement course, working toward an advanced academic degree, or finding a job on base or in the local community.

The fourth and final pillar is Airman and family housing.

"How can we expect to ask our families to sacrifice so much in defense of our nation if we don't do all we can to provide them with a safe, comfortable and affordable place to call home?" asked Mrs. Shanahan.

"Here at Offutt, we are working hard every day of the year to improve our dorms and our privatized housing," Mrs. Shanahan said. "I hope you believe us when we say that our living conditions for our Airmen are better than ever before, but we're not done yet. We need your feedback so we can make our housing even better."

With these pillars, it's clear that people here at Offutt and across the Air Force are already doing many things to take care of the most important asset ... "our people," General Shanahan said adding, "We can always do more."

Throughout the Year of the Air Force Family, Offutt helping agencies plan to expand some programs and add others to build on their ability to provide the best possible facilities and support programs.

"There are so many things planned during this year of the family," Mrs. Shanahan said. "One of them is a calendar we are producing that will show all on- and off-base activities that are centered on the family.

"I think you'll be amazed by how much is really going on around us," she said.

"The Air Force, and more specifically Offutt Air Force Base and our surrounding communities, is a great place to work, live and play," General Shanahan said, "and Laura and I are relying on all of you to come up with new and creative ideas that support the year of the family."

To find out what is happening during the Year of the Air Force Family here, visit the Offutt Web site at www.offutt.af.mil and the 55th Force Support Squadron Web site at www.offutt55fss.com regularly.