Volunteers help take care of families during increased ops

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Brian Maguire
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE ALCONBURY, United Kingdom (AFNS) --  While military members from Aviano Air Base, Italy, were working at a higher operations tempo than normal, two civilians from the 423rd Force Support Squadron here volunteered for a "deployment" of their own.

Christine Kaleikini and Natasha Matthews both volunteered to go to Aviano AB to support the child development center staff there during the height of Operation Odyssey Dawn and the transition to Operation Unified Protector.

"They needed volunteers and I know what it's like during surge operations," said Mrs. Kaleikini, the 423rd FSS Family Member Program Flight chief. "I thought we could be helpful."

Operations at the CDC increased to allow parents the ability to meet the demand of increased flightline operations in support of the mission to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, authorizing all necessary measures to protect civilians in Libya.

"Supporting an operation like this meant that our professionals could relieve some of the extra stress on the staff and children at Aviano (AB)," said Michelle Crawford, the Royal Air Force Alconbury CDC director.

Ms. Matthews, who worked with children from newborn to preschool-age while she was at the Aviano AB CDC, said she attempted to find ways to reduce the stress affecting the children.

"I found the children enjoyed the noise of the jets taking off," she said. "The kids loved to run to the fence to watch the jets take off, and I told them they'd see the jets come back safely later. I learned a lot about how much other places are affected by operations that are so big -- families, children, everyone."

The stress was felt back at home station, as both Mrs. Kaleikini and Ms. Matthews left family behind to support the operations at Aviano AB.

"I found it difficult to be away from my parents and sisters, and I know they experienced the same feelings," Ms. Matthews said. "I felt that what I was doing, I was appreciated. I was there to help, and you could tell the children appreciated it."

To recognize their efforts Col. Brian Kelly, the 501st Combat Support Wing commander at RAF Alconbury, presented them with a coin. While recognizing these two women for volunteering, he also highlighted the increased workload that the RAF Alconbury CDC employees experienced in response to the operation.

"We are in the business of caring for people, so when the call came, we responded," Ms. Crawford said. "Each and every one of us stepped up to fill the void, making it as seamless as possible."