Big Brothers Big Sisters visit 3rd Operations Group

  • Published
  • By David Bedard
  • Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs Office
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  As he dangled from parachute risers, 12-year old Keegan Hall looked down at a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier sailing in the Pacific. Deftly controlling his parachute's toggles, Hall successfully maneuvered into a stand-up landing on the ship's pitching deck.

Hall had donned a parachute harness and was strapped in by Aircrew Flight Equipment Flight, 3rd Operations Support Squadron personnel, while visiting 3rd Operations Group, 3rd Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Oct. 29, with Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Peering through virtual reality glasses, Hall experienced what it would be like to eject from a fighter jet above an aircraft carrier group.

Lt. Col. Greg Miller, 3rd OG deputy commander, said the activity was part of BBBS' tour of several units of the group that included an F-22 Raptor static display, the C-17 Globemaster III flight simulator, the F-22 egress procedure trainer and some first-hand experience with Air Force survival equipment (including night vision goggles).

Colonel Miller said Col. William Routt, 3rd OG commander and military liaison to the BBBS leadership council, organized the event with BBBS Director of Development Kelli Phifer.

"(They) decided it would be a good opportunity to give back to the community, because the community here supports the military so well," Colonel Miller said. "It's a nice way to show the community what we do on a day-to-day basis. It gives them a little bit of appreciation for what goes on here at the base, and it gives the kids a good time."

Colonel Miller said 3rd OG Airman relished the opportunity to work with BBBS youth.

"It's a nice break from the in and out day-to-day work," he explained. "Second, I think it's a nice way for them to give back to the community, and let them know the community sees what they're doing and knows they're part of the big picture of what goes on here."

Phifer said BBBS matches youth from the ages of 6 through 18 with a caring adult mentor or with a mentor couple. The program has made more than 1,500 matches across the state.

"We like to say that we help kids stay on the right path," Phifer elaborated. "Kids need someone to talk to, and it's a great thing to have their 'big,' who is someone who doesn't have to be there.

"They're not a parent. They're not a teacher. They're not someone who is being paid to spend time with them like a tutor. This is an adult who chooses to spend time with the child, and that tells something to a kid."

Phifer said BBBS youth may open up to their mentors in ways they may feel reluctant to with their parents. Despite this dynamic, mentors are not a stand in for parents, but rather a supplement.

"We're not a replacement at all for parents," she said. "We're there to help walk kids through and be a friend, do what friends do."

Would-be mentors submit to a background check before qualifying for the program. Mentors, parents and children are interviewed to make a match on common preferences and personality traits.

"What we really want are long-lasting relationships and friendships," Phifer said. "And just like any other relationship, you have to have some sort of commonality. So, we take great care in matching our 'bigs' and 'littles' and then supporting those relationships is really the key to making them long and successful."

BBBS match-support specialists talk with mentors, parents and children every month and are available to mentors to help them through the mentorship process.

Phifer said children in the BBBS program are not necessarily at-risk youth, and there are no restrictions for youth being admitted to the program.

"We say every kid could use a 'big,'" she added.

Phifer said a philosophy of BBBS is every kid needs five "refrigerators" they feel comfortable opening. Previously, this paradigm was achieved through extended family, but modern families are often geographically separated, requiring adult mentorship provided by organizations like BBBS.

BBBS recognizes mentors are important for children of deployed troops, Phifer said, and the organization started a school-based program in Aurora Elementary School. BBBS also fosters the military mentoring initiative where either the mentor is a military member or the mentored child is a military family member.

With nearly 70 children currently looking for a mentor match, Phifer said opportunities are ripe to volunteer with BBBS.

For more information about BBBS, visit www.bbbsak.org.