LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Retired Senior Master Sgt. Bobby Joseph Laymon received the 2008 Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award for AETC.
Mr. Laymon was selected for the honor because of his daily volunteer work at the Lackland Freedom Chapel.
Mr. Laymon performs more than 160 hours of volunteer work every month at the chapel. His activities at the facility range from Sunday school lessons to teaching AARP safe driving courses.
He trained new staff members, including ushers for gospel services, and helped proofread and distribute more than 600 weekly bulletins.
Mr. Laymon also ensures the safety and security of the facility each day.
One of his main duties is manning the reception desk and fielding a variety of concerns from Lackland personnel.
"While I'm here during the day I have to answer all sorts of questions as far as programs we have," Mr. Laymon said.
Many inquiries he receives come from active -duty personnel and family members.
Some questions come from people trying to contact family members in basic military training.
"I give them a point of contact and try to fulfill their needs," said Mr. Laymon.
Another frequent concern he deals with is people looking for religious services at Lackland that correspond to their denomination.
His participation at the chapel sometimes extends into the nighttime hours.
"People sometimes ask me, 'Do you sleep here, B.J.?'" he said. "That's because this is my family."
For Mr. Laymon, helping out individuals is central to his volunteering.
"The bottom line is that you meet the needs of the people, that you quiet the murmuring," he said.
As an ordained Baptist deacon, Mr. Laymon abides by a guiding principle when carrying out his daily work.
"Whatever I do, I'm doing it as unto the Lord," he explained.
This maxim also guides the daily advice he provides to people seeking assistance.
"I won't tell them that if I can't show it to them in the Scriptures," explained Mr. Laymon. "I don't want to say 'B.J. said so.' I want to show them it's written there. It carries more impact that way."
Mr. Laymon says that when he gives advice based on Scriptures, he attempts to equate it to real-world situations in the hopes of making it more readily understood.
He admitted that his responsibilities at the Freedom Chapel are often difficult.
"Sometimes you tell people stuff they don't want to hear," he said.
However, he views the feedback to his duties as heartening.
"It's all positive," he said. "I'm a very humble person. I just tell them whatever I do, I do it unto the Lord."
According to Mr. Laymon, being open and straightforward throughout his volunteer commitments is important.
"Above all, you have to be open and honest," he said. "If you don't know the answer, say you'll get it. Because nobody knows everything."
Established in 1996, the Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award is given annually to individuals or organizations not employed by the Department of Defense that perform "an outstanding humanitarian act or service" for members of the armed forces or their families.
Each service branch nominates a single individual for the honor.
Mr. Laymon is currently the AETC winner and a candidate for the Air Force nomination.