By CMSgt. Kathleen M. McCool
subsection of the local AFA chapter
in San Antonio, the Alamo Chapter,
to bring enlisted airmen together to
discuss issues affecting them and learn
about AFA’s involvement in those topics. The goal was to gain more enlisted
interest in AFA.
The chapter promoted the gathering as an opportunity for Lackland’s
enlisted airmen to be part of an AFA
beta test.
The first meeting took place in April
2014 with nearly 25 participants, all of
whom were interested in hearing about
AFA. They learned about AFA’s mission to educate; advocate for airpower
and for airmen and their families; and
support the Air Force.
They also learned that the benefits
of joining AFA go beyond just being
associated with a professional organization. Indeed, AFA offers them opportunities to develop their leadership
skills and increase their knowledge
of issues affecting the Air Force and
national defense.
The group decided to call itself AFAe, with the “e” standing for “enlisted.”
Over the last eight months, the group
has focused on professional development, volunteer activities, and learning
about the Alamo Chapter and AFA.
The chapter has hosted several mini
mixers and a large mixer to bring chapter members together with the AFA-e
participants.
“I think the forum of a mixer is a
good opportunity to network with
individuals outside my normal organization and is a great way to bring
Photo by CMSgt. Kathleen McCool
Many times when I have mentioned
the Air Force Association to my coworkers, peers, and subordinates at
JBSA-Lackland, Texas, I got the same
response: “But isn’t that an officer’s
organization?”
The answer was, and remains, “no.”
AFA is the only organization that
represents all airmen—officers and
enlisted personnel—across the Active
Duty component, Air National Guard,
and Air Force Reserve. Plus, our association supports the Air Force civilian
workforce and our industry partners.
Yet in my discussions with other AFA
volunteers, it became clear the belief
persists that AFA is for officers only.
It’s an issue many local AFA chapters
deal with.
To help counter this misperception,
AFA’s Membership Committee, heeding the advice of association leaders,
last year devised this idea: Create a
AFA-e gives enlisted airmen
the chance to get to know the
association up close.
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Wingman Magazine ︱ January 2015
CMSgt. Kathleen M. McCool is squadron superintendent with the 323rd
Training Squadron at JBSA-Lackland,
Texas. She is an AFA national director
and was one of the Air Force’s Outstanding Airmen of the Year in 2011.
Wingman Magazine︱ January 2015
Photo by SSgt. Steven Hedgepeth
Photo by SSgt. Steven Hedgepeth
together members of the total Air
Force,” said SSgt. Christina Schuler,
an AFA-e member.
The AFA-e members have shown
they are hungry to make a difference in
their community and in the Air Force.
In September, they conducted their
first volunteer activity: greeting some 25
veterans on their return to San Antonio
from Washington, D.C. The Alamo
Honor Flight organization had f lown
the vets to the nation’s capital to visit
the National World War II Memorial
and other memorials and monuments
on the National Mall and in its vicinity.
If AFA is going to best represent the
Air Force, then it must be made up of all
members across the Total Force. AFA-e
is helping achieve that but time will tell
how well the concept is working and
whether other AFA chapters adopt it.
“The future of AFA is tied to new
thinking and outreach programs like
AFA-e,” said Alamo Chapter President
Paul H. Weseloh. “Our marketing and
strategic messages need to stay ahead of
our potential membership groups. …
AFA-e is a local example of how this
can succeed.”
AFA-e members’ comments thus far
have been positive.
“The feedback and information we
are getting through AFA and AFA-e is
the best I have had in my career,” said
TSgt. Christopher Hinds, an AFA-e
member. “The opportunities are wellsuited for what I want out of my future
and the Air Force.”
With efforts such as AFA-e, perhaps
one day, I’ll face this question when
speaking to others about AFA: “But
isn’t that an enlisted organization?” ✪
Top: CMSgt. Kathleen McCool explains AFA’s CyberPatriot program at the AFA-e
launch meeting at JBSA-Lackland, Texas, April 14, 2014. Bottom: An enlisted airman
is introduced to Air Force Magazine at the meeting. Left: CMSgt. Roger Towberman,
25th Air Force command chief, talks to enlisted airmen about AFA during an AFA-e
mixer, Oct. 17, 2014.
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