ENID AFA and VANCE AFB
Enid Chapter 214 of the Air Force Association (AFA) has been significant support to the military personnel stationed at Vance and their families for many years. Recent examples of this support are illustrated below:
The 71 FTW recognizes their award winners each quarter. AFA provides a free one-year AFA membership to the Airman, NCO, Senior NCO and Company Grade Officer winners. These winners and their spouses are also invited as guests to the next scheduled AFA Quarterly Membership Program. Approximate value is $1100 per year.
The 71 FTW also recognizes their annual award recipients. AFA provides a $50 check to the Airman, NCO, Senior NCO and Company Grade Officer of the Year. These winners and their spouses are also invited as guests to the next scheduled AFA Quarterly Membership Program. Approximate value is $350 per year.
AFA has a program referred to as Pitzenbarger Scholarships. These scholarships are presented to enlisted personnel working on their formal education. This year Vance did not receive one of these nationally funded scholarships, so the chapter presented an award and paid for it from chapter operating expenses.
When enlisted personnel arrive at Vance as their first assignment after training they are enrolled in a full-time course at the First Term Airman Center. During this course the base teaches them what they need to know in their new role as permanent party personnel. One of the things discussed with them is professional obligations and opportunities. The Enid Chapter awards a complementary membership to the AFA for the top student in each class. Approximate value is $400 per year.
The Enid Chamber of Commerce organizes an Enlisted Appreciation Night for Vance personnel each year. This annual event grows every year and last year more than $18,000 was raised for this critical program. The Enid Chapter of the AFA is always the largest single contributor to this event. Additionally, one of the members of their Board of Directors co-chairs this event. Approximate value is $1,000 per year.
The Vision Program is an AFA/AEF sponsored program that involves the purchase and distribution of “USA Today” newspapers to classrooms. The teacher also receives a lesson plan with each newspaper to highlight aerospace related material to the class. The Enid Chapter sponsors five classrooms for this program and many of the classrooms include children of the military personnel on base. Approximate value $200 per year.
The Enid Chapter organizes an annual golf tournament held at Oakwood Country Club called the “Vance-Townie Golf Tournament”. This program seeks to join military personnel with community leaders for a social event. Each team consists of three Vance personnel and one community leader. Military personnel are only charged the cost of breakfast and cart rental fees. All prizes are provided by local businesses and only military guests may win them. Approximate value is $1500 per year.
The Enid Chapter supports many routine military events each year. Examples of the kind of events supported during the past year include the Senior NCO Induction Ceremony and promotion selection parties for Staff, Technical, and Master Sergeants. The AFA is proud to help offset costs to recognize these critical milestones. Approximate value is $1000 per year.
The AFA is also present during virtually every base sponsored event. These events include Safety Fly-ins, Retiree Appreciation Days and Open House programs. As a minimum they set up a booth to provide assistance during these occasions. They also traditionally fund a reception for the Thunderbirds or other demonstration team. Approximate value is $1000 per year.
The AFA schedules approximately two general membership programs per year at the Vance Club. The membership programs each provide about $2000 worth of business to the club.
The AFA seeks to find speakers and entertainment that is of interest to the military personnel at Vance AFB for their quarterly programs. Examples of these programs from the recent past include Colonel Donlon (USA, Retired and Medal of Honor Recipient). Major General Risner (USAF, Retired and Vietnam POW), General Newton (USAF and HQ AETC Commander), Senator James Inhofe (US Senator from Oklahoma), Secretary F. Whitten Peters (Secretary of the Air Force). There is no charge for some speakers, but others require at least expense reimbursement. Approximate value is $1000 per year.
The Enid Chapter also sponsors many one-time events that benefit base personnel each year!
The Enid Chapter donated a marble monument in the base Air Park in honor of the Air Force’s 50th Birthday.
They also raised funds of $100,000 for the "Pioneers, Past, Present, and Future" statue mounted in downtown Enid depicting pioneers from three frontiers; land, air and space. Enid AFA also supports the efforts to bring the traveling Vietnam Memorial to Enid as often as possible.
The Enid Chapter of the AFA is well known nationally. They were recognized as the Chapter of the Year (out of 200 chapters nation-wide) in 2006. Enid is a town of about 45,000 people with approximately 600 businesses, predominantly small family owned and operated businesses. This relatively small community has more Community Partners (business memberships) than Washington DC or any other large metropolitan area. In fact, Enid has more Community Partners than any STATE or REGION of STATES in the United States! They have the strongest Community Partner (business membership) program in the entire AFA and have held this distinction for over 20 years! This is only one indication of the strong base/community relationship that Enid, Oklahoma and Vance AFB enjoy.