Program offers social, recreational activities to single Airmen

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
Airmen here are invited to participate in a Single Airman Programming Initiative offering trips and events for those without spouses. Each offering is open to Air Force active duty, Air National Guard and Reserve.

The objective of the Single Airman Programming Initiative is to provide single enlisted and officer Airmen with social and recreational opportunities that will foster a strong culture and sense of community at Hanscom.

"The core focus is building and sustaining ready and resilient Airmen," said Courtney Cann, SAPI program manager and 66th Force Support Squadron program and project specialist. "Each program helps build unit cohesion and a strong sense of community - both critical to the sustainment of a ready, resilient force."

The installation Force Support Squadron Community Services Flight Chief Paul Hartigan is the liaison for the program and works to oversee the programming execution.

Cann is responsible for finding, planning and coordinating each event. In 2015, single Airmen were able to participate in more than 10 trips in the local New England area.

"Last year our exciting line-up included mini-speedboat races in Boston; cliff jumping, kayaking and zip lines at Brownstone Park in Connecticut; and Segway tours at Gunstock Mountain Adventure Park in Gilford, New Hampshire," Cann said.

Feedback from those able to attend many of the activities last summer was favorable.

"Brownstone Park was an exciting time, especially for the amount paid," said 1st Lt. Jonathan Green, a Battle Management project engineer. "Our coordinator organized a phenomenal opportunity to wakeboard, kayak, paddle board, zip line and swim."

As part of the program, among the offerings are classes, events or special programs that target single Airmen participation.

"With so many wonderful programs for our military families, this initiative offers our single Airmen participation in fun activities alongside other single Airmen," said Cann. "The programming focus is recreational, historical, cultural or educational."

The SAPI is part of an overarching Recharge for Resiliency program, also known as R4R.

"The programs that fall under Recharge for Resiliency target specific audiences and provide needed support for our Airmen and their families," Cann said. "Funding for these programs is provided by the Air Force."

She added that while the SAPI program focuses on single Airmen, other programs provide opportunities for others.

Following the deaths of two Hanscom Airmen last fall, the Hanscom Spouses Club also looked for ways to support local Airmen, including Hanscom's single Airmen.

"A Hanscom Spouses Club monthly board meeting fell just a few days after the C-130J crash overseas that claimed the lives of Senior Airmen Nathan Sartain and Kcey Ruiz, and we knew we wanted to do everything we could to support the community through this difficult time," said Tara Harbour, HSC president. "We allocated funds for the memorial, helped coordinate meals and organized volunteers, but we also wanted to help make sure that the single Airmen living in the dorms did not fall through the cracks."

The spouses club will support a SAPI event.

Harbour added that she understands these Airmen may be away from home for the first time, with no spouse to lean on and no family nearby, which can be difficult in the best of circumstances.

"Our hope in sponsoring this program is that these Airmen know that they are on our minds and that we as a community will continue to support them," she said.

To support Hanscom's single Airmen, Cann expects to organize a similar number of trips as last year for 2016.

"We have several activities planned for single Airmen to take advantage of," she said. "Some will be to new places while others we hope to repeat from last summer based on the overwhelming response."

She also discussed that through the program she was able to purchase Outdoor Recreation gear that is available to single Airmen for off duty activities.

"We have bikes and other outdoor equipment that is maintained by Outdoor Recreation for Airmen to use on a first-come, first-serve basis at no or little cost," Cann said.

For each SAPI event, a small fee is charged for each planned activity to cover meals and other miscellaneous costs.

Cann said that all eligible Airmen will be notified of each offering through email.

For further information on trips or other aspects of the program, contact Cann at 781-225-1356.