McConnell rolls out Year of the Air Force Family Spotlight program

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Currier
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The secretary and the chief of staff of the Air Force have designated July 2009 to July 2010 as the Year of the Air Force Family.
 
Throughout the year, bases across the globe will focus on improving programs geared toward areas of concern for Air Force families. 

In honor of the campaign, McConnell is launching a YoAFF Spotlight program. The spotlight program will highlight families that have provided outstanding support to the base and local community. Selected families will be recognized in the base newspaper, the "Tanker Times," and on McConnell's public Web site, under the Features tab on the left column of the homepage. 

McConnell will showcase its first family spotlight during YoAFF Week, Nov. 1 to 7.
 
"We have incredible families here," said Kim Heiner McConnell's YoAFF project officer. "I'm excited for this opportunity to let their stories be told and get them deserved recognition." 

Any Team McConnell member can submit a family. 

Active-duty, Guard and Reserve servicemembers, civil servants and their families, including parents and grandparents, are eligible for nomination. Single servicemembers are also qualified, as are friends and community members who support Airmen. 

"Air Force families come in multiple forms," Ms. Heiner said. "The spotlighted families will include them all. They can be single Airmen, single parents, military couples, traditional families or extended family members." 

To nominate a family, download a submission form from McConnell's public Web site. Forms are located under the Featured Links tab on the right side of the homepage. 

The forms solicit some general information and a 250- to 300-word write up detailing how nominees are outstanding. 

People should send completed nomination forms and a high-resolution, digital photograph of the submitted family to Ms. Heiner at kimberly.heiner-02@mcconnell.af.mil. Nominations must come with photos to be considered for publication. 

In addition to recognition, McConnell will focus on improving its family-oriented programs and activities throughout the YoAFF. 

"I'm excited for this opportunity to highlight existing programs for military families and to take a fresh look at what we can do as a community to better care for each other," Ms. Heiner said. "We have some outstanding programs designed to benefit Air Force Families, but we're always looking for ways to improve them." 

For a list of McConnell's YoAFF activities and programs, visit the Airman and Family Readiness Center's Web site. 

For general information, visit the official YoAFF Web site.