Grissom Airmen volunteer to be a “Big” Published May 18, 2016 By Staff Sgt. Jami K. Lancette 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- As one of the core values, community excellence is achieved when members of an organization can work together to successfully reach a common goal and preserve individual self-worth.Keeping those core values and traditions alive, Grissom Airmen took part in a Big Brothers Big Sisters event that was held in the dining facility here March 5, 2016 as part of a community outreach initiative sponsored by the Grissom Air Reserve Base Rising Six committee.“We will be volunteering with the children each month,” said Tech. Sgt. Rachel Nichols, 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron dental assistant craftsman. “We will have plenty of activities that Airmen and their littles can do together as a group.”BBBS helps provide children with adult matches as mentors, helping them develop confidence, higher aspirations and steer them on the right path to a better future.According to BBBS, before becoming a match, a volunteering adult must pass a background check and a careful interview process. They then match the “big” and “little” based on location, personalities and interests.“The Airmen have been amazing volunteering with the kids, our kids have some tough shells,” Stacia Peters, BBBS executive director of the Cass County branch. “The Airmen have been awesome with breaking through to them.”“The group setting has been amazing,” Peters added. “It really makes the kids feel like they’re special and that they are worth something.”For many of the kids it was their first time visiting a military base, but Airmen here opened up the door and their hearts to reach out to the “littles”.“It was great, it was really fun to see the kids open up,” said Staff Sgt. Lauren Werner, 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron dental assistant apprentice. “A lot of them, it was their first time being on a military base so they were kind of scared at first.“I think they started to have a lot of fun and really enjoy themselves,” Werner added.If interested in becoming a “Big” contact Tech. Sgt. Shannon Fuller at 688-2043.The 434th Air Refueling Wing is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. 434th ARW Airmen and aircraft routinely deploy in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.Stay connected, visit Grissom on Facebook and Twitter.
