Partners in Education program helping 188th build bridges with community

By Tech. Sgt. Josh Lewis
188th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

2/16/2014 - FORT SMITH, Ark. -- Community outreach is vital to mission success. For many years, the 188th Fighter Wing here has been committed to helping the community in which it lives, and enjoys some of the highest levels of community support across the Air National Guard. But that relationship is a two-way street. To do their part, members of the 188th volunteer for programs that create strong bonds between the base and our community. One example of this can be seen through the Partners in Education program.

Partners in Education program links the wing with a local school, and lets the school tap into the enthusiasm and expertise of the unit members when help is needed. For more than 20 years, the 188th has been partnered with Sutton Elementary School in Fort Smith, Ark. When a school needs assistance with items such as supplies, food for low income families or mentoring children from broken homes, they can rely on members of the unit to assist in that need.

"It appears that some children in the school need a strong adult influence because some kids lack that in their families," said Lt. Col. Judith Mathewson, 188th Mission Support Group deputy commander.

The mentoring piece of the PIE program is a relatively new part for the unit. Tech. Sgt. Briane McCaslin, 188th Fighter Wing Fuels Operation Center manager, joined the program in fall of 2013. McCaslin is mentoring a child who was making Cs, Ds and Fs in class. Since he started mentoring, the child has shown remarkable im¬provement with all As and Bs.

"He is turning in all of his homework now, and I hope this helps him out in life and he can learn from this," McCaslin said. "The program also allows people to donate a bag of food to ensure that less fortunate children have food to eat through the weekend."

Members from the 188th participated in various events such as a fall festival MASH Bash, in which they set up a simulated triage unit. The program also allowed unit members to attend a career day to teach kids about jobs and personal experiences in the Air Force.

Career day allows members to be positive role models and encourage children to earn their diploma, set goals for themselves and stay away from illicit activities like alcohol and drugs. The lesson plan includes fostering interest in science and math in young men and women to teach them.

"We set up in a classroom with cots and bandages, members from 188th Medical Group and other people attended," Mathewson said. "During the career day, Lt. Col. Toby Brallier did a phenomenal job and was able to relate to the kids."

As a capstone for the PIE program, classes from Sutton Elementary recently accomplished an Ebbing Air National Guard Base tour to allow the children to see firsthand what it's like to be in the 188th.

"This was the highlight of the year for these kids," said Audra Efurd, Sutton Elementary School counselor. "We've really appreciated the partnership with the 188th and everything the wing has done for us at Sutton. I know the kids will be talking about their experience here for a long time. They were so excited and the 188th did a great job of hosting us and showing the kids an amazing time."

For the PIE program to succeed, however, it needs support from unit members. Many peoples' only experience of the 188th is seeing aircraft fly over the city. With the ongoing mission conversion, the 188th will be less visible to the general public, and will need avenues like the PIE program to allow Guard members to interact with the communities it serves.

Programs such as these are mutually beneficial to the unit and community. Students receive the direct benefits of having Guardsmen take an interest in their lives, and the unit retains a useful education and recruiting tool that allows it to stay in touch with members of the community.