Photo By Airman Nahaku Takahashi | Jennifer Major, 628th Force Support Squadron child and youth program assistant,...... read more read more
Subscribe
35 years of serving military families
JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. - The name ‘Ms. Jennifer’ echoes across the hallways of the Joint Base Charleston School-Age Program Youth Center, as children eagerly ask for a mentor who transformed this military building into a safe and loving home away from home.
Jennifer Major, 628th Force Support Squadron child and youth program assistant, is a beloved figure in the lives of Charleston military youth. Born and raised in England alongside her four brothers from a Jamaican mother and a Pennsylvanian born father, Major comes from a family with a strong connection to serve.
Her father, a U.S. Air Force active-duty Airman who moved often with his family, fueled Major’s dedication to serve as she experienced first-hand how valuable support systems are for military children.
“You don’t know what the children are going through,” Major said. “[And] it is very important for the children, because if they didn’t have the youth center, what were they going to do?”
Major said she once tried to retire, but after 35 days, her passion to serve led her to return part-time, missing the youth who’d call her name.
“Those kids really do notice when she is here and when she is not here,” said Tevin Rouse, 628th FSS child and youth program teen coordinator. “She is always an outlet for them to just talk to and listen. We are a second family in a way at the Youth Center.”
Major fosters a welcoming environment at the Youth Center with dedication and empathy. “If you are having a bad day at home or in your personal life, you can’t bring it to work,” Major said. “When you come to work, forget about that and put on a good smile and make it happen. It’s ultimately for the children and their families.”
As a young man, Harris Bordon III, 628th FSS child and youth program director, met Ms. Jennifer and witnessed her influence and commitment throughout her career.
“Over 35 years of knowing her, even knowing her as a youth, she definitely played an instrumental part in the program,” said Bordon. “Her years speak for itself as she is very dedicated, reliable and hard working.”
Her unwavering commitment to serve is evident as she shows Charleston's youth that resilience doesn’t just come from uniformed service, but through the connection and compassion that is nurtured by the everyday heroes who show up for our families.
At Joint Base Charleston, the Youth Center creates a foundation to help families thrive, built by individuals like Ms. Jennifer.
To help alleviate the stress on families, the Youth Center offers a variety of fun activities designed to nurture the resiliency of military children. The activities include field trips like fishing excursions, volunteering opportunities, arts and crafts, music and sports.
“It’s really fulfilling to know that you are making an impact on the youth, because it is unique, what they have to go through,” Rouse said.
The JB Charleston School-Age Program Youth Center continues to provide a large suite of programs for youth development designed to help cultivate strong military families through fostering community and connection.
The 628th Force Support Squadron, provides care for children of all ages, from newborns to teens. The Child Development Center focuses on newborns to children up to five years old, and the Youth Center accommodates 5-18 year olds.
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.02.2025 15:50 |
| Story ID: | 494413 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 35 years of serving military families, by AB Nahaku Takahashi, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
Air Mobility Command
