News

574th CBSS map of deployed family members puts face to mission, personalizes work efforts

  • Published
  • By Holly Birchfield
  • 78th ABW/PA
Robins Air Force Base, GA --  Members of the 574th Combat Sustainment Squad-ron wanted to put a face to the mission they serve.

So, Amber Alday, a materiel manager and Palace Acquire intern in the 574th CBSS's C-5 Structures Section, recently created a 5-foot-4-inch map decorated with pictures of squadron members' deployed family members to give people in her work area a visual reminder of the importance of their organization's mission.

Ms. Alday said the map, which currently displays about eight photos, was a way for squadron members to remember those who are near to their hearts, but serving far away.

"(Our leadership) wants each flight, the C-5 Flight, the F-15 Flight, and the C-130 Flight, to put a face on the warfighter they're serving using these maps," she said. "We have pictures of family members who are in the service right now and are deployed. We have some who have died in combat. We try to put their pictures near where they were deployed."

The 24-year-old Whigham, Ga., native has a photo of her brother, Kyle, a U.S. sailor who is currently deployed, on the map. She said it gives a deeper meaning to her job.

"This makes what we're doing here more personal," she said. "We thought it would make people think more about their everyday duties here, that it does affect someone."

Elaine Binford, who is also a materiel manager in the 574th CBSS, provided a photo of her son, Jamey Harris, for the map. She said she likes having that visual reminder.

"I think it's a good thing," she said. "It kind of brings it home and it reinforces our jobs as suppliers to the warfighter."

Luis Basora, materiel manager supervisor in the 574th CBSS, said his area plans to maintain the map throughout the year.

"The reason for doing (the map) was to remind everyone that not only do we have family working (in the deployed area), but this reminds us what we're here for," he said.