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McChord empowers Airmen to pick up

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rebecca Blossom
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, every year more than 12 million pounds of litter are tossed onto Washington roads.  The department has funded litter pickup programs at a cost of more than $4 million each year.

How much does littering affect Team McChord members? They're soon to find out.

Recent changes to all Department of Defense ground services contracts saw budget cuts, and one of those cuts was the base's civilian contracted litter patrol.

Without a contracted litter patrol, McChord Airmen will be filling the role.

A plan has been developed by the McChord Chiefs to divide the base into areas of responsibility. Each unit will own a certain section and maintain it, trying to keep it litter free.

Chief Master Sgt. Gordon Drake, 62nd Airlift Wing command chief, was one of the many who collaborated on the plan.

"We'll try to get each unit an area of responsibility and each unit will have responsibility for the upkeep of their AOR," said Drake. "There's still a contract to cut grass and pick up storm damage, but as far as trash lying around, each unit will be in charge of cleaning it up and they'll have the flexibility to execute that however they want."

The Airmen operated litter control program gives Team McChord a chance to take action in their own community.

"It will give us personal responsibility," said Drake. "It's no different than anything else we're supposed to do as Airmen. This is our base, our name is on it, and we're taking care of our property."

Some McChord members are already leading the way in keeping McChord litter free.

Gary Mosley, JBLM Base Exchange services business technician, picks up litter any time he sees it.

"Early on my parents taught me to do the right thing and put it in the trash," said Mosley. "I hope that by picking up litter, it passes on, and people will see me doing it and say, 'If he can do it, I can do it too.'"

The Department of Ecology says that not only does litter create an eyesore, but it harms wildlife and their habitats, and puts motorists at risk. Lit cigarette butts tossed from vehicle windows cause numerous roadside fires.

According to the McChord Chiefs, by taking the responsibility of base beautification into their own hands, McChord members can actively make a difference in their community.

"With service members performing the task themselves, they'll be less likely to drop their own litter," said Drake. "They'll buy in to this new policy."

"It's just the right thing to do," says Staff Sgt. Stephen Cooper, 62nd Aerial Port Squadron air terminal operator. "It's important for the base and the environment, and it takes just two seconds."

Although the McChord Chiefs have started the AOR litter plan, the actual plan has not been published yet. However, McChord Airmen do not have to wait for that plan before doing the right thing.

Senior Airman Merlin Davis, 262nd Network Warfare Squadron cyber intelligence analyst, gave his thoughts on picking up litter.

"It's important to do the right thing even if someone else didn't," said Davis. "We've got to set the example now. Why wait to do good?"