Airmen adopt-a-village … or two

  • Published
  • By Capt. Catie Hague
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Airpower’s “global reach” took on a whole new meaning recently, when more than 50 Airmen traveled to two villages, a few miles from here, to equip local Afghan children with supplies for their future.

Airmen of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing delivered bags filled with basic school supplies to about 400 children from Ja Farkel and Langi Khail, two villages within Afghanistan’s Parwan Province.

In addition, each child received his or her own toy, said Senior Master Sgt. Tim Bolon, 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group first sergeant.

“We also dropped off about 40 large bags of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing at each location, all donated by our troops here and their support system back home,” he said.

The success of this daylong humanitarian effort was not only seen through the faces of the children, but was also felt by the Airmen who made it happen, officials said.

“What an overwhelming experience to be able to personally help the men, women and especially children of Afghanistan,” said Airman 1st Class Caneisha Haynes, a traffic management journeyman with the 455th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. “The best part of our trip to and from the villages was seeing the (Afghans) give us a thumbs up as we drove by. It really put things into perspective; the people truly appreciate our help and support.”

Planning for this excursion started about a month in advance.

Security forces and Office of Special Investigations teams surveyed the towns, plotted routes in and out and coordinated with the Army’s provincial reconstruction team so the group would know exactly what to expect, Sergeant Bolon said.

A week before the trip, about 75 Airmen volunteered to organize an entire (20-foot-by-10-foot-by-8-foot) container filled with donated supplies by separating them into specific piles for appropriate distribution.

“Everyone wanted to help,” Sergeant Bolon said. “And for those who had the opportunity to travel out to the villages, it was an experience they will never forget.”

Adopt-A-Village was a career-altering experience, said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Strohbeen of the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron.

“I now want to cross-train into OSI so I can interact more with the locals and help Afghanistan in their nation-building effort,” she said. “[Adopt-A-Village] is definitely something I could do every day.”

The Airmen of the 455th AEW are helping the people of Afghanistan focus on their future, officials said.

“We came over here to fight terrorism,” said Brig. Gen. James Hunt, 455th AEW commander. “Yet in a short period of time, it became apparent that there are many facets to this fight.

“Helping this nation through humanitarian initiatives,” he said, “is just another way to battle terrorism and accomplish our mission. There is nothing more rewarding.”