FTAC lends a hand for 'humanity'

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class David Carbajal
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  People need four things to survive in Alaska: food, water, clothing and shelter. Ten members of the First Term Airman Center volunteered to help provide one of these basic needs for under-privileged families. 

The FTAC NCO in-charge, the flight leader and eight students devoted 80 hours of off-duty time to assist the Anchorage affiliate of Habitat for Humanity May 3. 

"We saw this as an excellent opportunity to help the community," said Staff Sgt. Michael McClary, the FTAC flight leader and a member of the 3rd Civil Engineer Squadron Structure Section. 

According to its mission statement, Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry dedicated to building simple, decent homes in partnership with qualifying low-income families. 

Led by site foremen, these homes are built mainly by volunteers, many of which are military. 

"We have a fairly large contribution of volunteer hours from both Army and Air Force," said Britney Thompson, the Habitat for Humanity volunteer coordinator. "Typically, we have two to three groups of 20 come out on a monthly basis." 

Currently, these volunteers are taking on the challenge of three- to five-bedroom homes with two floors of living space. 

"Working together, the tasks got done fairly quickly," said Tech. Sgt. William Neff, the FTAC NCO in-charge. "We worked on everything from stair rails to some landscaping work." 

Having the students volunteer was about more than just the work or the time invested said the FTAC NCOIC. 

"This type of work teaches the Airmen several valuable lessons," Sergeant Neff added. "It helps with leadership, responsibility, a sense of the greater good and is a great character builder." 

As the flight leader described, the students learn to take charge when tasks are set in front of them--leadership. 

"It also gives the Airmen an opportunity to work hand-in-hand with civilian workers," Sergeant McClary said. "They get a chance to see other processes of work and how it's different from military--character." 

Greater volunteer turn-out is also a possible benefit of these experiences. 

"We aim to instill these qualities into the students in hopes that the qualities will spread within their duty sections and eventually to those they will supervise," said Sergeant Neff. 

For more information or to volunteer, visit the Anchorage Habitat for Humanity Web site at http://www.hfhanchorage.org.