Bagram Airmen launch 'care strikes' to spread cheer

Photo By Capt. Michael Meridith | Aircraft maintenance personnel here drink hot chocolate during a frigid night shift, Nov. 26. The drinks were courtesy of a group, led by Capt. Ken Valardi, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Command chaplain, that regularly brings beverages and fellowship to wing Airmen on the night shift.  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

11.27.2007

Story by Capt. Michael Meridith 

455th Air Expeditionary Wing   

By Air Force Capt. Mike Meridith
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – For the last two months, a group of Airmen have been conducting what some are calling "care strikes," to enhance morale among service members.

Air Force Capt. Ken Valardi, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing chaplain and his assistant, Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Smith, began the project in September with the delivery of frozen treats to wing Airmen. When the weather turned cold, the weekly deliveries turned to hot chocolate and coffee, especially valued by flightline maintainers and security forces Airmen working frigid night shifts.

"It accomplishes a lot of things," said Valardi, who added that the operation usually reaches between 50 and 60 people each time. "It boosts their morale, it lets them know people care and it allows us to meet them and get to know them."

In addition to Smith and Valardi, the visits also include Air Force Master Sgt. Ronald Lajeunesse of the wing's Military Equal Opportunity office who often distributes phone cards and hand and foot warmers to the service members he visits.

"The chaplain and I have a similar goal," said Lajeunesse. "My goal is to get out to all the Airmen, assess their morale and the overall human relations climate. So we partnered to meet those needs."

According to Valardi, the visits aren't only for the benefit of Airmen, but have included just about anyone working the night shift around the flightline, regardless of their service.

"I had a young Soldier tell me the visit 'made her day,'" said Valardi.
"Once they start drinking the hot chocolate, they want to stay and talk. They'll talk about their families, the deployment and their jobs – many are under a lot of stress and it's good for them to blow off steam and talk to someone who is interested in what they're doing."

Airman 1st Class Candace King, a munitions systems apprentice with the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and one of the group's recent "customers" agreed.

"When you're under stress it feels good to know that people care," she said.

455th Air Expeditionary Wing command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Ray Clark, who accompanied the group on a recent visit added: "The important part is to make sure people know that what they do for the mission is important. It boosts their morale to know that someone cares about them."

With the onset of winter, the visits have taken on added importance as a means to combat the "holiday blues," said Valardi.

"Here they are – it's freezing cold outside, they're in the mountains of Afghanistan, they're lonely, but they know people care about them and they are not forgotten," Valardi said.

• Date Taken: 11.27.2007
• Date Posted: 11.27.2007 14:46
• Story ID: 14224
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF