944th POL flight gives back to the community

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Barbara Plante
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  "Not everything that counts can be counted. And not everything that can be counted, counts." - Albert Einstein

As an Air Force Reservists, getting the chance to serve an annual tour in Alaska in July and August is a big plus.  For the members of the 944th Logistics Readiness Squadron it wasn't just about getting out of the heat and providing some much needed additional manpower for the mission was also about taking the opportunity volunteer their time.

The 673rd Logistics Readiness Group at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, has partnered with the state and has a three year contact in the Adopt-A-Highway Program.   This provides them the chance to become a vital part of an important public/private partnership that's dedicated to keeping Alaska's roadsides clean and attractive.

"On behalf of Col. James Petrick, 673rd Logistics Readiness Group commander, thank you for coming out today to help with the clean-up, I want to especially thank those folks from the 944th out of Luke Air Force Base," said Senior Master Sgt. Donald Crowl, 673rd LRS, right before the group got to work.

The 944th Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants Flight helped clean-up more than 300 pounds of debris on a one and half mile stretch of road side just outside the JBER gates. "After getting all of our training done we decided to spend some time giving back to the community," said Tech. Sgt. Ramsay Tandal, 944th LRS, POL flight.

There are many reasons Airmen volunteer their time, gaining new experiences and insights, giving back and helping others, creating connections with people, a sense of accomplishment... Whatever the reason is, volunteerism is a powerful, practical and sustainable way to help develop the whole airman concept. 

"This was a great way for us to give back.  We always try to leave a place better than we found it," said Tech. Sergeant Christopher Saenz, 944th LRS, noncommissioned officer in charge of fuels distribution.