Caring for the people

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Naomi Shipley
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. --  "McChord is completely different now," said Chief Master Sgt. (retired) Bob Jeffrey, McChord Red Cross Coordinator. "We didn't even have computers [When I first got here], we used typewriters in the early 80's."

Jeffrey, who arrived on station in 1979 as a senior master sergeant, has seen the evolution of Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the Air Force firsthand. He first enlisted in 1961 out of Detroit, Michigan and has spent more than 50 years connected to the Air Force.

"Back then McChord wasn't even a joint base yet," he said. "The base also had completely different aircraft. We had C-141s, C-130s and a fighter squadron on standby. At that time we were part of the U.S. Air Force Military Airlift Command."

His job here at the time was the equivalent of the 62nd Airlift Wing command chief, he was known as the assistant director of administration, but in the 80's his resources were not quite the same.

"I used to work in the headquarters building, building 100," he said. "At that time the building had a barber shop, a dining facility, and dormitories on the third floor. It also housed the publication distribution office, which I was responsible for."

The publication distribution office had every Air Force and base form and publication, because there was no internet at the time. It was the equivalent to E-Publishing, myPERS, Virtual Military Personnel Flight, and Google in paper.

Although a lot has changed since he first arrived to McChord Field, one thing that has not is his willingness to help others.

Jeffrey, who isn't short on knowledge of the base or the Air Force's history, now oversees 31 Red Cross volunteers at the McChord Clinic as the McChord Field Red Cross Coordinator.

Those volunteers work at the McChord pharmacy, Airmen's Clinic, laboratory, records management, dental clinic, and family practice.

"The volunteers worked more than 7,444 hours from June 2014 until July 2015," said Jeffrey. "That's a lot."

Joey Naputi, McChord Clinic pharmacy technician and avid volunteer appreciator said his job wouldn't be the same without the volunteers.

"Combined it's like hiring two and a half full time workers here," he said. "They do so much. They help return stock, monitor patient medication, and not to mention they also provide comic relief."

Naputi said the pharmacy stays so busy that he couldn't imagine what it would be like without them.

"They are the best part of my job," Naputi said.

Jeffrey said every single volunteer spends their time here out of pure selflessness.
"They do it because they want to give back to the service," he said. "Most of them are connected to the military in one way or another, either they served or their loved ones have served."

James Harmon, pharmacy supervisor, who also works with Jeffrey to coordinate volunteers said, "Bob is what makes the volunteer program run. We couldn't operate without each and every one of them."

He also said Jeffrey does all he can to take care of the volunteers.

Jeffrey said the volunteers have doubled since 2001, what started out as 15 volunteers has now reached more than 30. He said his job is to ensure their wellbeing.

With more than 15 years at McChord Field and seeing all the changes from McChord Field to JBLM, one thing Jeffrey understands is working with people.

"If you take care of your people, your people will take care of you," added Jeffrey.