Volunteering? Set an example by being recognized for it

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kyle Johnson
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  The Volunteer Recognition Ceremony was hosted April 26, recognizing Airmen, and Soldiers and civilians who volunteered a cumulative 52,897 hours to the base and Anchorage community.

The ceremony recognized outstanding volunteers in the youth, civilian and retiree, military, and family unit categories. They also awarded a Volunteer Excellence Award, which is given to an individual who has made a significant long-term impact on the community. The Volunteer Excellence Award is not limited to the annual time frame like the other awards.

Quarterly award winners are also recognized throughout the year.

However, the recorded volunteer work may not represent the full extent of JBER's community impact because some volunteer hours are not making it past the Airman and Soldier level.

The Military and Family Readiness Center is advising Airmen, Soldiers and their supervisors to take the time to ensure volunteer hours are being properly tracked so recognition can be duly provided.

"Some people volunteer because that's just what they do," said Sharzae' Cameron, a community readiness specialist at the JBER MFRC. "They're service people and they don't want the recognition, but if there's a program in place and there's at least something we can do to recognize you, let us provide that to you."

Because of the nature of the work being recognized, many who are doing the most may not want that recognition, but Michael Spann, a community readiness consultant at the JBER MFRC says the recognition could have far-reaching consequences - and not just for the volunteer.

"It's important for our children to see their parents being recognized for their volunteer achievements," Spann said. "Recognized not for their work which takes up much of their day, not for their family life which takes up much of their day, and not for their rest, but for their volunteer activity - going above and beyond.

"That will encourage our kids to volunteer in our community as a youth and later, when they are of age."

Sometimes, being a good example is just as powerful as being a good volunteer.

Volunteer hours can be submitted through a unit volunteer coordinator or organizational point of contact by using a spreadsheet the MFRC can provide.

It is very important that the spreadsheet be used to submit the hours, as it is the most efficient way the MFRC has to effectively track volunteer hours across all the different community and base organizations, Spann said.

"Volunteer hours are due monthly, and should be submitted by the first Friday of every month," Spann said.

This means volunteer hours for April should be submitted by the first Friday of May, and so on.

For 2015, a total estimated value of $1,455,196.47 has been invested back into the community through JBER volunteer hours.

The specifics of tracking volunteer hours is left up to the individual unit, whether it is a supervisor responsibility, individual responsibility or UVC/OPOC responsibility doesn't matter as long as the MFRC gets the hours in the correct spreadsheet by the deadline.

"If you don't know who your UVC is, send them to us," Cameron said. "We'll make sure your hours are calculated and you get the proper recognition you should get for volunteering."