Offutt supports retired Airmen

  • Published
  • By Rogelie R. Johnson
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  It's Monday morning and retired Chief Master Sgt. Jon Siner waits in the Retiree Activities Office for any retired service member to come in and ask questions about his or her benefits. After serving 29 years in the Air Force, he is one of many retirees who continue to serve and support the military. 

Nearly 690,000 retired service members are "still serving" the military by sharing their time and expertise to support military bases worldwide, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz in a memorandum sent to base commanders in April. General Schwartz said base commanders should provide support to retired Airmen who volunteer and continue to embody the Air Force core value of "Service Before Self." 

"I agree with General Schwartz, that we should appreciate the generosity of retirees. I think Offutt provides excellent support and services for the military's retired community," Brig. Gen. John N.T. Shanahan said. "Retiree volunteers, like Chief Siner, characterize the value of selfless service and set a great example for our Airmen." 

In June, President Barack Obama started an initiative, known as "United We Serve," which asks every American to engage in the renewal of their communities. 

General Shanahan said volunteering for organizations, such as the Retiree Activities Office, helps not only the retired community, but the greater community as a whole. 

Chief Siner volunteers four hours every week at the RAO. As a volunteer, he mans the office and answers questions that any retiree has regarding a wide variety of issues, such as health and education benefits, and other available services for retirees. He said he started volunteering because he wanted to give back to the retired military community. 

"We're always in need of volunteers. Right now, we have retired Air Force, Army and Navy volunteers helping us out," Director of Retiree Activities Richard Dickson said. "We used to have a retired Marine, but he moved. I'd really like to have a retired Marine to come in and volunteer." 

Volunteers are an essential part of the RAO because they provide the everyday operations in the office, Mr. Dickson said. To be an RAO volunteer, Mr. Dickson said one must be a retired military member who has compassion and empathy for other retirees. He said volunteers should also have good communication and interpersonal skills because they deal with a wide variety of issues from people of all ranks and ages. 

"The RAO serves as a liaison between the retiree, the base and other government agencies. We help them find answers to major issues about financial, emotional and physical matters," Mr. Dickson said. 

Chief Siner said the RAO is very responsive to the needs of the retiree community. 

The RAO provides a link between base agencies and military retirees, their family members and survivors. The office offers limited counseling, guidance and full referral assistance for retiree-related matters, including retirement benefits, such as TriCare, G.I. Bill issues and base retiree events, including Offutt's annual Retiree Appreciation Day. 

This year, the annual RAD is set for Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Offutt Field House. Nearly 30 vendors have signed up to host a table, including TriCare, the Commissary, the Veteran's Affairs Office and other local associations. 

Since its establishment at Offutt in 1979, the RAO has hosted RAD for almost 30 years. "The main purpose of the event is to thank retirees for their service," Mr. Dickson said. "We also try to make it a one-stop shop for retirees to ask agencies any questions they may have about retiree benefits and hopefully resolve their issues." 

"My wife and I attended previous RADs, and a lot of things have changed since I was in the Air Force," Chief Siner said. "The updates during the RAD are definitely worthwhile. People have a better understanding of the services available to them." 

More than 1,200 people from Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota attended RAD in 2008, and Mr. Dickson attributes the huge turnout to the 500 free flu shots given. Event organizers hope to offer free flu shots again this year. 

The RAO is located in Bldg. 323-C, Room 201. Office hours are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information about the RAO and how to get involved, call (402) 294-4566 or send an e-mail to rao@offutt.af.mil.