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JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - Some families pack their cars with food, beverages, beach chairs and umbrellas before heading out to find a nice beach to relax on. For some New Jersey homeowners who live along more than 127 miles of oceanfront property, the sand and ocean waters are just outside their doors. Homeowners made this luxury available in 2009 to selected service members deploying or returning from overseas assignments through Operation Jersey Shore Vacation.
"I first heard of OJSV from Chief Master Sergeant Michael Ferraro, from the 514th Air Mobility Wing," said Chief Master Sgt. Terrence Greene, 87th Air Base Wing command chief.
Lexi Sinor was a junior in Monsignor Donovan High School in 2009 when she came up with an idea to provide military men and women who have recently returned from or are preparing for deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan with a free vacation on the Jersey Shore. Her and her father, Randy, were able to identify homeowners along the shore who willingly made their homes available to service members and their families. Lexi handed over responsibility of OJSV to her younger sister, Amie, before departing to attend college in Utah in the fall of 2010.
Amie and her friend, Paige Laurence, met with base leaders including Col. John Wood, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and 87th ABW commander and the two command chiefs.
"We were just blown away by the opportunities they offered for our military members," said Greene. "They were just selfless; this was not a request from the community, this was just from teenagers who wanted to do something."
OJSV, a nonprofit organization, works by families donating a week at their shore home to service members who either returned from overseas or are soon to be deployed overseas. Service members receive gift certificates for local restaurants, shops and attractions in addition to a free week-long vacation on the Jersey Shore.
Greene and Ferraro review the applications on JB MDL for active-duty and reserve service members respectively.
"We are looking for nothing specific other than for service members who are preparing for a deployment or just coming back from a deployment where some rest and recuperation would be beneficial to the member and his or her family," said Greene. "We are especially looking those who have gone through an arduous deployment."
Master Sgt. Brian Clegg, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron, prime lead liaison and unit fitness manager participated in the program and recognized OJSV's commitment to take into consideration the special needs of service members and their families.
"They will accommodate as best they can," said Clegg. "My youngest son is in a wheelchair, so our accommodations were a ground-level house and the only costs we had were for the meals and the cost of the gas to get there. The house itself was provided to us."
The OJSV program is currently in its fourth year and is not available to service members during July and August due to the high demand of summer travelers.
"We are now expanding our advertising to Soldiers and Marines. This is not an Air Force thing, this is for all DOD members," said Greene. "We want to advertise what a great and wonderful opportunity this is. There are actually more homes available than there are service members."
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 08.03.2012 13:12 |
| Story ID: | 92632 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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