Marketing gets word out to RAF Mildenhall

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Austin M. May
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  A part of the mission of the 100th Force Support Squadron is providing entertainment and recreational activities to Airmen stationed at RAF Mildenhall.

However, if no one knows about the events going on, it's a little difficult to draw a crowd.

Enter the Marketing Department.

Led by Marketing director Steve Doke, the five-person team is responsible for the slew of products Team Mildenhall sees multiple times a day announcing specials, events and activities offered by the 100th FSS. Each member contributes to spreading the word to the masses, and as a team they work tirelessly to ensure the base populace knows what's available to them.

Bruce Richardson and Sandra Fletcher are the team's artists, and together make up a dynamic duo of design whose work can be seen not only all over the base, but online as well. Mr. Richardson handles just about every aspect of both the 100th FSS public Web site and their monthly "Get Up and Go" magazine, while Ms. Fletcher's work is more prominent in sign holders and on walls in most base buildings.

While Mr. Richardson specializes in computer graphics, according to his coworkers he's quite a dynamo with a pen in his hand and paper in front of him.

"He's an incredible freehand artist," Mr. Doke boasted of his cohort. The self-taught artist said he's taken few classes, and mostly enjoys working for the 100th FSS for the sheer variety of the work that comes across his desk.

The other half of the art team, Ms. Fletcher, is also self-taught, and is the creative genius behind almost all the posters found around RAF Mildenhall. She said she takes pride in knowing that she's contributing to the success of the 100th FSS's mission.

The newest members of the team are Mr. Doke's Marketing Assistant, Melody Burris, and sponsorship coordinator Lexi Kemp, who have been in the office about three months and two weeks, respectively.

Mr. Doke said the Marketing Department is more than just trying to spread the word about monetary-generating events. In fact, they support more than 20 facilities around base.

Their job involves advertising to the base about any number of events, from office closures to commander's calls. They also help support briefings and presentations when called upon to do so.

Feedback is one of the fuels that helps drive the Marketing Department, and they're constantly looking for new ways to get it. In addition to comment boxes and direct interaction with customers, the department will soon employ a mystery shopper program where base members report on their interactions with 100th FSS facilities. The program should go live in a few months, Mr. Doke said.

The Marketing Department's support of the warfighter and his family doesn't stop at the RAF Mildenhall gate. Mr. Doke said when they can they work with their RAF Lakenheath counterparts and vice versa. Although the two departments sometimes compete for business, they enjoy a friendly working relationship that benefits members of both bases as often as possible.

"The name of the game is cooperation," Mr. Doke said.

Creativity, is what keeps the job fun, Mr. Doke said.

"Everyone here is extremely creative," he said, adding creativity is a definite must for anyone wanting to do the job. It's a job, he says, that is actually a lot of fun.

"I wouldn't keep doing it if it wasn't fun," he said, smiling.