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Professional groups, services keep deployed Airmen busy

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Marcus McDonald
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) --  Three professional organizations are doing their part to boost morale and keep Airmen involved for the duration of their deployment here

The Airmen Committed to Excellence, Middle Tier Association and Top 3 Organization are helping augment some of the 455th Expeditionary Services Squadron’s morale-building initiatives.

“Each of these organizations represents a cross-section of our Air Force population at Bagram,” said Lt. Col. Anne Marie Fenton, 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron commander.

“They’re in tune with the needs and interests of our Airmen here and bring targeted advice on how to improve the quality of life here.”

Whether organizing a sporting event or providing a place to unwind, the partnership between the organizations -- and services squadron -- is making it possible for the quality of life here to be a continual focal point.

“In the delicate balance between mission and morale, the partnership enables a critical focus on supporting the 455th AEW’s (Air Expeditionary Wing) warfighting mission by providing avenues for Airmen and Sailors to relax after a hard day’s work,” said the colonel, who is from Virginia Beach, Va.

Over the next months, services Airmen and the three organizations will focus their attention on holidays. These months are tough on troops.

“It’s difficult to be away from friends and family during the holidays, which are stressful even in the best of times,” said the colonel, deployed from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

She said in a deployed or a combat environment, a network of friends and co-workers can mean the difference between a sad holiday season and a more enjoyable one.

The three organizations are doing their part to make that happen.

The Airmen Committed to Excellence strives to be a focal point for Airmen around Camp Cunningham, said Senior Airman Daniel Cintron, its president.

“In addition to improving the quality of life here for everyone, ACE gives Airmen (E-1 to E-4) an opportunity to express what they want and need to make life here easier and better,” Airman Cintron said. The Airman, of Tampa, Fla., is deployed here from MacDill Air Force Base, Fla.

The Middle Tier Association is for staff sergeants and technical sergeants or those selected those ranks.

“The Middle Tier Association provides an excellent opportunity for all of our staff selects through technical sergeants to get involved in helping improve your life and the lives of others while deployed here,” said Staff Sgt. Benjamin Haines, MTA president. Sergeant Haines, from Lakewood, Calif., is deployed from Yokota Air Base, Japan.

The Top 3 Organization is for the top three enlisted ranks. Its goal, in cooperation with Bagram leadership, is to coordinate and plan activities that reenergize Airmen so they can continue dedicating their effort to getting the mission done, said Master Sgt. Anthony Edmondson, Top 3 president.

“In addition to providing strong role models for our enlisted Airmen here, we want to do our part to make Camp Cunningham a great place to work, live and have fun,” said Sergeant Edmondson, of Valdosta, Ga., and deployed from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska.

Enjoying off-duty activities is an important part to most people’s well-being, said Master Sgt. Edgar Langdon, the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group first sergeant. He is deployed from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

“Just like at home station, all work and no play can cause problems for anyone,” said Sergeant Langdon, from of Hatboro, Pa. “This is especially true around the holiday season when most Airmen are used to being around their family and friends.

The sergeant said Bagram’s professional organizations, in partnership with services Airmen, are doing an excellent job of improving the quality of life for Airmen here.

“These morale-boosting venues will continue to get even better as the upcoming holiday season gets closer,” he said.

Master Sgt. Frances Bracks-Miller, first sergeant for the 455th Expeditionary Maintenance Group and 455th Expeditionary Operations Group, encouraged participation in the three professional organizations.

“It’s awesome that professional organizations like these even exist in a combat zone,” Sergeant Bracks-Miller said. “These three organizations are a valuable part of the Air Force’s Wingman initiative and I encourage others to get involved to make these organizations even better.”

Senior Airman Brenda Patterson, an information manager with the support group, has seen the impact of the partnership between the services squadron and the three professional organizations.

“Soon after arriving here, I saw that some people didn’t know anyone else deployed here,” said Airman Patterson, who is from Mesquite, Texas, and also deployed here from Davis-Monthan.

She said that soon changed mostly because of the efforts of all the organizations involved. She said the groups and services troops put on such events as Texas Hold ‘Em volleyball and basketball tournaments and running a snack shack and recreation areas.

“And most of all,” she said, “they are taking the time to find ways (to help) people enjoy themselves and get to know others during their off-duty time.”