Trainees boost wingman skills by serving others

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Barbara Plante
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZ. --  Being a good wingman sometimes means rolling up your sleeves and getting dirty.  Eighteen members of the 944th Fighter Wing Development and Training Flight volunteered for a good old fashion spring cleaning at the Luke AFB Child Development Center during the April Unit Training Assembly.

The Air Force hopefuls volunteered their time to help clean the CDC floor to ceiling, inside and out.

"Volunteering is what we do in the military it is part of being a good Airmen," said Tech. Sgt. Tamika Culpepper, Air Force Reserve Command recruiter with the 944 FW. "By providing the opportunity for the DTF flight to volunteer their time we are showing them Air Force Core Values."  

"I feel really good about what we are doing here today, it feels great to get out of an office environment and be able to serve," said Arnold Dockstader, a trainee in the DTF flight who is a native of Ariz. and fulltime student at Central Arizona College. 

The Luke AFB Parent Advisory board organized the deep clean of the CDC. "The teachers here give so much and this was a way for us to give back," said Erin Salvador, parent of a child who attends the base facility and a member of the board. 

Salvador talked about the CDC and how important it is for Air Force members to have this resource. "The goal for this event is to create an environment that is great for education and is clean and healthy for the children who spend on average 8 to 10 hours per day here. We are supporting parents by giving their children a healthy setting enabling them to better focus on the military mission."

The DTF was created by the Air Force Reserve in 2011 to help civilians transition into military life, manage expectations and increase their success during basic military training and their Air Force career.  Before members go to basic training they are introduced to Air Force customs and courtesies, drill and ceremony, dress and appearance, fitness requirements and military life in general.