The Air Force Volunteer
by Preston C
Every year, I volunteer heavily during the holidays, whether it is with the local food bank, Santa’s in Blue, or the Soup Kitchen with my church. It seems almost a creature of habit, something for my EPR. Something that has phased out of my mind the true meaning of what I am doing and who I am doing it for, almost military in routine. Then a member of my unit was in need after a loss, everyone passed the hat, bought gifts, food, and the like. It seemed like the right thing to do, like all the hundreds of volunteer events I have done in the past. Until...that member of my unit’s mother and father sent us a heartfelt thank you card. I think that is the first time I cried in my 11 years of service, other than leaving my family for deployment that made me realize what we had done. Don't volunteer to help yourself get BTZ or because you need an EPR bullet. Don't volunteer because you feel like you need to or your boss will look down on you. Don’t get “volun-told.” Do it because it means something. Do something no one else does, but everyone appreciates. Volunteer opportunities are many, and don't have to come down via email or briefed at Commanders call for you to know about them. Get out there, do something that moves you and makes you cry, make it feel right in your heart. The good book says do unto others, and maybe one day, you will need someone to do unto you. That is the true meaning of the Air Force Volunteer.