Team Kadena honors volunteers who save base millions

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jason Lake
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Base leaders, co-workers, friends and family honored the service of more than 3,000 volunteers during the annual volunteer recognition ceremony at the Rocker NCO Club April 17.

In the past year, volunteers have offered more than 821,285 hours of their own time to help various organizations and causes throughout the base and local community.

"Every year our Kadena volunteers give their time and skills to help save lives, improve our schools, ease the lives of the elderly, help those stricken with tragedy, supplement medical services and provide leadership and guidance to our youth," Vanessa Esposito from the Airman and Family Readiness Center said during the ceremony. "They have proven their greatness by the hours they have devoted to improving the quality of life for everyone in the Kadena community."

Col. Corey Martin, 18th Wing vice commander, who was accompanied by Chief Master Sgt. Mark Marson, 18th Wing command chief master sergeant, praised the volunteers for their efforts that essentially saved the base more than $17 million in cost if they were paid minimum wage.

"This is a check [the 18th Wing] could not have afforded to write," Martin explained as the Kadena Volunteer Advisory Committee presented a mock check representing the financial savings afforded by thousands of people who volunteered time and service during a tough budgetary climate. "We are proud of those civilian, military, and family members who gave of their time to make Kadena a better place for all of us to work, live, and play."

The colonel said people should take time personally to say "thank you" to the many volunteers throughout the base.

The event's guest speaker, Pam Borgert, added, "The military places a huge emphasis on this whole notion of touching lives and lifting spirits. Whether you're an Airmen Committed to Excellence, 5/6 Club, Top 3, Company Grade Officer Council, or honor guard member, you are touching lives by being a designated driver, a youth sports coach, a tutor, an organizer, and on and on."

"Military family members are those people who keep this fine machine that we call the military living running smoothly," she added. "We tutor, we teach, we coach, we mentor, we listen, we drive, we pass out prescriptions, we clean teeth, we pass out mail. Not only are you Kadena's finest, you are America's best as well."

After personally recognizing 36 volunteers in attendance, the AFRC and base leaders presented awards to the following individuals for their outstanding contributions:

Chapel Award winners
Catholic Parish Outstanding Volunteer of the Year: Robin Boyd, Kadena Chapel
Protestant Parish Outstanding Volunteer of the Year: Yadira Call, Kadena Chapel
Wired Bean Outstanding Volunteer of the Year: Master Sgt. Ryan Strub, 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron

Angel Award winners
Active Duty: Senior Airman Jaime Compean, 18th Contracting Squadron
Civilian: David Knight, Kadena Elementary School
Family member: Cheryl Karnes, Kadena Chapel
Retiree: William Watson, AFRC
Civilian Local National: Eiichiro Shimabukuro, AFRC
Group: 18th Contracting Squadron