Volunteers save RAF Mildenhall $607,000

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Clark Staehle
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Team Mildenhall volunteers gave away more than half a million dollars in 2005. 

"Based on a report from last year, 34,284 volunteer hours were donated, worth about $607,000," said Lona Berndt, Airman and Family Readiness Center community relations technician. "That's just in reported hours. We find only about 30 percent (of volunteers) report hours. They're important to the mission because they fill gaps which allows Airmen to focus on mission-essential duties." 

The volunteer hours are comparable to 16 people working 40-hour weeks during an entire year. 

Many volunteers choose not to report their time for a variety of reasons, Mrs. Berndt said.
As a result, it's difficult for the AFRC to gauge exactly how many volunteers the base has.
About 300 people are registered as volunteers, but the facility estimates the real figure is closer to 1,500. 

Many people who give their time to the mission also provide a hidden benefit -- their time directly supports quality-of-life initiatives on base, and that goes hand in hand with retention, Ms. Berndt said. 

The better and more comfortable they can make Airmen at Mildenhall, the more likely they are to stay in the Air Force past their initial obligation, she said. 

There are many types of volunteerism here at RAF Mildenhall, Ms. Berndt said.
Opportunities on base include places or programs such as the Airmen's Attic, the Thrift Shop, Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, Mothers of Preschoolers and more. 

The base also has several events each year which require volunteers, such at the Fourth of July Celebration. 

Off-base volunteer opportunities include Airmen Against Drunk Driving and local hospitals and soup kitchens. The AFRC has a complete list of available charities.
While many people volunteer in the community, some choose to give their time to units on base. 

Several people help out in military organizations, including the 100th Air Refueling Wing Staff Judge Advocate office, the 100th Civil Engineer Squadron and the 100th Communications Squadron. Ms. Berndt said. 

Additionally, each unit on base has a Key Spouse to assist with and support family readiness. 

Volunteering at the legal office frees up the rest of the office to do other work, said Yolanda Petosky, 100th ARW/JA volunteer. 

Mrs. Petosky said she hopes to be accepted into Officer Training School, and assisting the legal office with its day-to-day operations helps her get a taste of what's in store, she said. 

The rewards of volunteering can be two-fold. Not only does the event or organization benefit, but it can also have an emotional impact on the volunteer. 

"I sometimes think volunteering is better than working for pay," said Jennifer Alatorre, Mothers of Preschoolers volunteer and wife of Tech. Sgt. Daniel Alatorre, 727th Air Mobility Squadron. "When I think of the jobs I've had, I've always come away with something greater in the times I have volunteered. In some sense you just get a deeper connection of what's important, of what's real. I think it gives you a better sense of perspective. 

"I think a lot of this culture is about 'me me me,'" Mrs. Alatorre added. "When you volunteer, you're giving your time. You're doing something for someone else, so it's not all about 'me me me.'"