JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON –
Joint Base San Antonio Military & Family Readiness Centers are accepting nominations for annual awards recognizing the contributions of outstanding volunteers within the JBSA community in 2021.
Military units, volunteer organizations and JBSA members can submit nominations of individuals or groups for the JBSA Volunteer of the Year Awards, the JBSA Volunteer Excellence Award and the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Information on the awards and award nomination instructions can be found at http://www.jbsa.mil/Resources/Military-Family-Readiness/Volunteer-Resources/.
To receive and submit nomination packets and forms, email Randolphmfrc@us.af.mil. The deadline to submit an awards nomination is March 14.
Award nominees and winners will be honored at the 2022 JBSA Volunteer Awards Ceremony April 20 at the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston Military & Family Readiness Center, 3060 Stanley Road, building 2797. The ceremony starts at 1 p.m.
“I think the most important thing we can do is to recognize our volunteers, to honor them for their time and the work they do,” said George Romero, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston M&FRC installation volunteer coordinator. “This ceremony of appreciation affords an opportunity to recognize the impact of volunteer service both on and off the installation. It is commendable that even in the midst of a pandemic the resilience and dedication of the volunteers has greatly enhanced and strengthened our communities.”
The Volunteer of the Year Awards identify and recognize individuals who contributed their time and service to JBSA units and volunteer organizations in 2021, to include all branches of service, and who made a significant positive impact on the lives of others.
Individuals who are eligible for these awards are active duty, military family members, military retirees, Department of Defense civilians, contractors and non-military affiliated volunteers.
There are eight Volunteer of the Year Award categories in which nominations can be submitted: active duty, military family member, youth, retiree, civilian, small group (50 members or less), large group (51 or more members) and volunteer family of the year.
Each JBSA military unit and tenant organization, down to the battalion/squadron level, and community volunteer organizations are allowed to submit one nomination in each category, except for the youth category in which unlimited nominations may be submitted.
The Volunteer Excellence Award honors federal civilians, military family members, military retirees and federal retirees of all service branches who have dedicated a lifetime to community service. There is no limit to the number of Volunteer Excellence Award nominations that may be submitted for consideration.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award, or PVSA, honors individuals whose service has positively impacted communities across the nation and inspires those around them to volunteer as well. PVSA eligibility is based upon the number of documented volunteer hours worked over the course of the year.
Romero said there are approximately 3,000 volunteers within JBSA, working in various roles in military units and organizations supporting active-duty members, military family members, retirees and Department of Defense civilians.
“Volunteers are always very, very important to our mission here at JBSA, and this is especially true now,” Romero said. “A volunteer is an amazing support because of their flexibility and providing support at any given time. A volunteer can help fill the gaps so that paid staff members are able to focus more specifically on daily tasks, to ensure deadlines are met and that the mission is accomplished. In this way, volunteers are essential partners in achieving the mission.”
JBSA members will notice the presence of volunteers throughout the installation, from greeting and giving directions to visitors at the information desk at Brooke Army Medical Center, to helping customers at 502nd Air Base Wing ID card services and working as nurses at JBSA medical facilities, Romero said.
“For example, at the ID card section, we have five volunteers there,” he said. “They help with customer service. They’re able to assist customers with their questions which frees up employees to work on tasks. Volunteers really take on a lot of the additional tasks and help them out tremendously.”
JBSA Military & Family Readiness Centers are offering nomination writing workshops for JBSA members who need help writing and submitting nominations for the volunteer awards. The virtual workshops cover how to review awards criteria and nomination forms and how to write an effective nomination package.
Workshops will be held at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston M&FRC from 1-2 p.m. Feb. 23; at JBSA-Lackland M&FRC from 2-3 p.m. Feb. 22 and March 8.
For details about registration for the Nomination Writing Workshops or for information on the JBSA Volunteer Awards, contact the JBSA-Fort Sam Houston M&FRC at 210-221-2705; JBSA-Lackland M&FRC at 210-671-4057; or JBSA-Randolph M&FRC at 210-652-5321.