Quick action from AFAS allowed an Airman to go home
Last August, Technical Sergeant Kimberly Oguinn was taking a class in New Jersey. On the evening before she was to head back to Dover, she received a phone call from a paramedic telling her that her father had passed away unexpectedly. The next morning, TSgt Oguinn headed back to Dover Air Force Base. Because her supervisor, Master Sergeant Walgren, had called the Air Force Aid Society (AFAS) in advance, TSgt Oguinn and her kids were able to fly home the next day.
TSgt Oguinn had been away from her hometown of Lacey, Washington for 13 years. In her time of need, AFAS helped her get back within hours. The unwavering kindness from the Society meant that “in any time of need, they’re going to get me home,” TSgt Oguinn said. To her family, “it showed them that the military cares about them as well.”
The assistance that TSgt Oguinn received meant more than plane tickets to attend her father’s funeral. It also meant that she could put more money toward the funeral’s expense and avoid paying a loan with a high-interest rate. This relieved some of the stress during a difficult time.
“Without AFAS, I know there are a lot of us who would be in a very bad financial situation,” says TSgt Oguinn.
The Society was ready and waiting for TSgt Oguinn to help her and her kids get home to say their final goodbyes. She is grateful for the generous AFAS donors who made that trip possible. “I really appreciate that they’re there for us,” she says.
The assistance from AFAS is another way that the Air Force shows how it supports its own. “It’s a true family,” TSgt Oguinn says. “We love each other. We’re always going to have each other’s back, no matter what, to assist when anything should happen.”
The Air Force Aid Society is the official charity of the U.S. Air Force and has been meeting the unique needs of Airmen and their families since 1942. AFAS works to support and enhance the USAF mission by providing emergency financial assistance, educational support, and community programs. Since 2008, AFAS has provided more than $215 million in direct support to Air Force families. Visit www.afas.org to learn more, apply for assistance or to donate.