Volunteering proves to be win-win in every situation

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Russell Kuck
  • 62nd Airlift Wing command chief master sergeant
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Most of us probably have taken the time to help a friend or family member in need or may have been the person who needed help.

In our country, we are fortunate to have the comforts we have. The power of volunteering is a huge contributor to our comforts, and I highly encourage everyone to volunteer.

I attended a fundraiser last week and was thrilled to see how many Airmen came together to help a fellow Airmen in need.

Maybe you've had to go on a short-notice temporary duty assignment, and a family member offered to check your mail while you were away.

Super Bowl weekend is coming up, and maybe you volunteered to be the designated driver. In any given scenario, volunteering proves to be a win-win situation.

Many of your Airmen may have told you, "I don't have time to volunteer."

We all have the potential to be unsung heroes. Volunteering just a few hours of your time can make a huge impact on other people's lives. It is, at the very least, a rewarding experience.

Volunteering isn't just an enlisted performance report bullet. Expanding your horizons is the other win-side of volunteering.

You should always volunteer for something that you're interested in. If you enjoy working with children, call a local children's hospital and see what you can do to help. Find a passion and pursue it.

Take, for example, volunteering to coach youth sports. You have the opportunity to teach children the importance of teamwork, the motto "practice makes perfect," the art of discipline, the fundamentals of an organized sport, and -- above all -- everyone has fun. These lessons will stay with the children as they get older.

Maybe just those few hours is what someone you helped needed to hear or see to stay out of gangs and stay in school.

Finally, volunteering is contagious. If an opportunity to volunteer presents itself, be sure to spread the word.

Even better, take a fellow Airman with you when you're off to volunteer somewhere. Chances are he or she will return on their own. Hooah.