OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --
The next time you drive through Offutt’s gates, take a look around - you might just notice how nice the medians, flower beds and surrounding areas look. This is due in large part to Offutt members who have volunteered their time through the Installation Pride Initiative to help maintain the base.
“You never have a second chance to make a first impression,” said 1st Lt. Michael Day, a volunteer, who helps maintain the STRATCOM gate with other members of the Company Grade Officers Club.
Day said his club chose this area because it is the first thing visitors see when they arrive at Offutt. He and a team of 10 CGOs recently spent an hour pulling weeds from the rock beds of the medians near the STRATCOM gate. This is the second time this year the club has gotten together to maintain the area.
Likewise, the Security Forces Association helps take care of the Kenney gate. Altogether, there are 18 designated areas across the base that have been adopted by private clubs and organizations.
Day said adopting an area is a great way to take pride in the base while also meeting other members of Team Offutt.
“I’m brand new to the base and brand new to the military in general,” said 2nd Lt. Valyn Gipson, who works in the 55th Medical Support Squadron. “It sounded like a good way for me to meet some other Lieutenants and Captains. If every group is doing their job, we’re going to have a decent looking base.”
The program was initiated in 2014 as a way to maintain some of the areas on base that don’t receive as much attention due to contract limitations. Today, the program is still going strong with volunteers from every rank and service.
Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Hirsch, 55th Mission Support Group superintendent, helps oversee the program, and says it’s a great way to give back while also investing in the base.
“There were a lot of areas that were going untouched and it wasn’t looking all that great,” Hirsch said. “We, as a community of military members, civil service members and even some of the contractors, do a great job of going outside of the base and volunteering our time, but this gives them an opportunity to take pride in where they work.”
No funding is provided by the base for this program and all of the work is voluntary. Resources for the program come from either the adopting organizations or through donations from local businesses.
Any organization interested in adopting an area should contact Hirsch for more information. He said there is no set schedule and a sign will be placed near the area identifying the sponsoring organization.
“We thank everybody that has volunteered,” Hirsch said. “It’s for everybody, we really hope that other folks see that.”