Teens gather for first AF Reserve Teen Leadership Council

  • Published
  • By Candice Allen
  • HQ Air Force Reserve Command Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) --  Teenagers from around the nation gathered at Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command here for the first AFR Teen Leadership Council meeting Nov. 12.

The 20 teens, selected to represent their peers as members of the council, received briefings on Air Force Reserve Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Programs and spoke to Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner Jr., the AFRC commander, about issues facing children of reservists.

The teens also participated in the Yellow Ribbon event in Hilton Head, S.C. Nov. 13, which provided the teens with hands-on experience. At the event, they worked with the South Carolina Operation Military Kids organization to provide activities for school-aged children of Reserve members attending the event. They assisted with character trait activities, arts and crafts, puzzles, games, science experiments, mobile technology laboratory activities and a digital camera program.

The TLC is a nationwide group of teens from AFRC families that provide a youth perspective in the planning, implementation and evaluation of AFR youth programs. Teens also speak on behalf of AFR youth at select functions and programs.

"The idea for the Teen Council came as a by-product of the annual Teen Leadership Summits," said Stacey Young, the adviser to the TLC at Headquarters AFRC. "We saw firsthand how valuable it was to bring these teens together and give them an opportunity to share their experience with someone who is going through the same thing. The TLC is going to serve as the voice of AFR teens throughout the county."

Eligible teens who participated in one of the three AFR Teen Summits and were interested in participating on the council had to submit a package. The package included an application, essay, letter of recommendation and recent school transcripts.

"We had 20 completed packages submitted," Ms. Young said. "We wanted a council of 12, but all the applications were so good that we decided to increase our numbers."

"I wanted a real role where I can make a difference, and this gave me the opportunity to make that impact," said Aaron Brown, a TLC member from Pennsylvania.

"I've never done anything like this before in the military, so this was a must," said Gianna Duncan, a TLC member from Massachusetts.

Teens will serve either a one or a two-year term based on age and year in school at the time of selection. All teens are in the ninth through eleventh grades.

Those selected received an official appointment letter from General Stenner.

"I was really excited," Gianna said. "This is a new adventure for me and I like adventures."

The TLC members are expected to participate in conference calls and discussions, attend retreats and lead and assist child and youth programs at AFRC Yellow Ribbon events.

"The kids at the event loved having our teens, and our teens thought the experience was very rewarding," Ms. Young said.

Additionally, the AFR Teen Leadership Council selected one of their members, Ms. Lauren Tancer, the daughter of Maj. David Tancer, a reservist with the 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, to serve as the AFRC representative on the upcoming Air Force Teen Council.