AFAF helps Kadena Airman hold father's hand at final moment

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Laslo Babosci
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
Kadena Air Base, Japan --  The Air Force Aid Foundation was established to provide an annual effort to raise funds for the charitable affiliates that provide support to the Air Force's active-duty, retirees, reservists and guard, as well as their family members or surviving spouses. This foundation has helped out even people right in your back yard.

One of the charities supported by the AFAF is the Air Force Aid Society.

Tech. Sgt. Joshua Proffit, Det 1, 554th Red Horse Squadron NCO in charge of structures contingency training, shared his story on how the AFAS has impacted his life.

He recalled the day he found out when his father became gravely ill - it was 2006 and Proffit was a military training instructor at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

"I was notified my dad had a seizure and was in the intensive care unit," he said.

He knew he needed to be by his father's side, so he reached out for help from the AFAS.

"They helped me with transportation, food, as well as a few other necessities," Proffit said. "It was great, now knowing [I had] one less thing to worry about ... and I could focus on the crisis me and my family was going though."

After seeing his father on the mend, Proffit returned to work. A few weeks passed by and he was called into his commander's office. There sat his commander, first sergeant and superintendent.

This panel normally means you did something wrong, but for Proffit, it wasn't the case at all.

"They told me they received a Red Cross notification on my father," he said.

The notification told him his father had but 24 hours to live. Again, he leaned on the AFAS for help.

"All they needed was the Red Cross notification and they were prepared to help," Proffit said. "This time they assisted my whole family in going to see my father."

On the way there, Proffit had a panic attack and was delayed at the airport. While his family went onto be by his father's side he remained back. This didn't stop the AFAS from helping him further; they worked to make sure he was on the next flight despite only one seat left on the plane.

"I finally arrived and got to see my dad and hold his hand, and a few minutes later he passed away," Joshua said. "It was as if he was holding out for me to get there."

Proffit and other Airmen around the world have been able to handle times of crisis, pay bills, and the like -- all thanks to the AFAS and the donations of other Airmen.

"It's the Air Force family taking care of one another," Proffit said. "It doesn't matter if you're financially sound or not the Air Force will help in a time of crisis, and I don't know of any corporation out there that will do that for its people."

For more information on how to donate to the Air Force Aid Foundation, contact your unit AFAF representative.