Patrick Airmen take to Space Coast shores for beach clean-up effort

Airman Leadership School students teamed up with their leadership and other volunteers in a beach clean-up effort that took place at Patrick Air Force Base’s Beach House on Feb. 3, 2018. The ALS class banded together to boost morale amongst Patrick’s Airmen and the community, as well as to do a good deed for the Space Coast. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Zoe Thacker)

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Patrick Airmen take to Space Coast shores for beach clean-up effort

A volunteer pulls tangled rope and net debris to a disposal area at Patrick Air Force Base’s Beach House on Feb. 3, 2018. Patrick’s Airman Leadership School class held a volunteer beach clean-up event in an effort to make Space Coast beaches a more community-friendly environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Zoe Thacker)

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Patrick Airmen take to Space Coast shores for beach clean-up effort

A volunteer carries bags of debris to the designated disposal area at Patrick Air Force Base’s Beach House on Feb. 3, 2018. Patrick’s Airman Leadership School class held a volunteer beach clean-up event in an effort to make Space Coast beaches a more community-friendly environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Zoe Thacker)

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Patrick Airmen take to Space Coast shores for beach clean-up effort

Published Feb. 5, 2018
By Airman Zoe Thacker

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Airmen from Patrick Air Force Base gathered at the base’s beach house on Feb. 3 in a clean-up effort of community beaches.

The event, hosted by Patrick’s Airman Leadership School Class 18-2, provided an opportunity to any Airmen who were interested in volunteering.

Senior Airman Dali Ramos, a client systems technician at the Air Force Technical Applications Center, conversed with fellow classmates and came up with an event to directly support the community and base’s beach house.

“We were all able to put together an event where everyone can contribute,” said Ramos. “As a result, I was able to grow and develop the skill of setting up an event. I will utilize this in my position as a new staff sergeant to set up more opportunities to volunteer.”

The future staff sergeants teamed up with their leadership to show that even a small event like a beach clean-up can build team morale, not only for Patrick’s Airmen, but for the Space Coast area as well, said Ramos.

“We want to teach the community the importance of camaraderie, and how to band together efficiently to complete a mission,” said Ramos. “Our community relies on us to defend and honor our values as Airmen in the United States Air Force. The event will help build trust between us and the community.”

The group banded together with plastic gloves, bags and the desire to work together in making Space Coast beaches a cleaner, more community-friendly environment.

“I feel that a community relationship for Patrick and its Airmen is essential to the success of not only our community, but also as individuals,” said Airman 1st Class Heather Jarmuz, a volunteer at the event. “Being involved in your community is very much like a symbiotic relationship; help others to help yourself. Specifically, the 45th Space Wing and AFTAC gather at the Beach House many times a year, and taking care of it allows us to enjoy our time there more.”

A positive, working relationship with the people of the local area is very important in keeping the launch mission of Patrick successful, but the ALS class was also hoping to inspire newer Airmen with their actions, said Ramos.

“By showing the younger Airmen that we can all band together as a team, we’re leading by example,” said Ramos. “We want to show that even though we came into Airman Leadership School as all different people, we are leaving as a family.”