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Bagram Airmen launch ‘care strikes’ to spread cheer

  • Published
  • By Capt. Mike Meridith
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan --  For the last two months, a group of Airmen have been conducting what some are calling "care strikes," to enhance morale among servicemembers here. 

Capt. Ken Valardi, the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing Chaplain and his assistant, Staff Sgt. Aaron Smith, began the project in September with the delivery of frozen treats to wing Airmen. When the weather turned cold, the weekly deliveries turned to hot chocolate and coffee, especially valued by flightline maintainers and security forces Airmen working frigid night shifts. 

"It accomplishes a lot of things," said Chaplain Valardi, who added that the operation usually reaches between 50 and 60 people each time. "It boosts their morale, it lets them know people care, and it allows us to meet them and get to know them." 

In addition to Sergeant Smith and Chaplain Valardi, the visits also include Master Sgt. Ronald Lajeunesse of the wing's Military Equal Opportunity office, who often distributes phone cards and hand and foot warmers to the servicemembers he visits. 

"The chaplain and I have a similar goal," said Sergeant Lajeunesse. "My goal is to get out to all the Airmen, assess their morale and the overall human relations climate. So
we partnered to meet those needs." 

According to Chaplain Valardi, the visits aren't only for the benefit of Airmen, but have included just about anyone working the night shift around the flightline, regardless of their service.
"I had a young Soldier tell me the visit 'made her day,'" said Chaplain Valardi.
"Once they start drinking the hot chocolate, they want to stay and talk. They'll talk about their families, the deployment and their jobs - many are under a lot of stress and it's good for them to blow off steam and talk to someone who is interested in what they're doing." 

Airman 1st Class Candace King, a munitions systems apprentice with the 455th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and one of the group's recent "customers," agreed. "When you're under stress it feels good to know that people care," she said. 

455th Air Expeditionary Wing Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Ray Clark, who accompanied the group on a recent visit, added, "The important part is to make sure people know that what they do for the mission is important. It boosts their morale to know that someone cares about them." 

With the onset of the winter, the visits have taken on added importance as a means to combat the "holiday blues," said Chaplain Valardi. 

"Here they are; it's freezing cold outside, they're in the mountains of Afghanistan, they're lonely, but they know people care about them and they are not forgotten," Chaplain Valardi said.