Airman’s attic and thrift store merger

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The Airman's attic and base thrift store have merged efforts and will soon open a new centralized location here to better facilitate the needs of Ellsworth's Airmen and their families.

This move is designed to revamp the previous system that needed improvement.

The Airman's Attic was facing a diminishing pool of volunteers and had limited space to accept donations and display them.

Chief Gillette said the previous Airman's attic struggled with inconsistent operating hours and unscheduled closures.

"There was one person pouring their heart and soul into the Airman's attic," said Chief Master Sgt. John Gillette, 28th Bomb Wing command chief. "I applaud their efforts, but that's simply too much for one person to take on."

The other half of this equation, the base thrift store, will also benefit from this merger.

"The thrift store was falling apart," said Mrs. Theresa Marten, Ellsworth's Officer Spouse's Club president. "The floor was buckling and the roof was leaking. This move will benefit our population on Ellsworth."

The heart of the merger is the location of the thrift store and Airman's attic to a new facility. The new combined Airman's attic/thrift store is in the lower level of the base post office building in the central dormitory complex, just across from security forces.

Mrs. Marten said she believes this combination of the two organizations, both designed to benefit Ellsworth's military community, is the start of something great. While the merger promises to do a lot of things, one thing Ellsworth's community does not have to worry about is the loss of a service traditionally provided by the Airman's attic. The nucleus of the Airman's attic program was to allow junior enlisted personnel to obtain needed household items free of charge. That benefit is still in place.

"I'm excited about this merger," Mrs. Marten said. "It's great for the base and in no way will it hinder our enlisted people, E-4 and below, getting the things they need."

Ellsworth's senior enlisted leader agreed.

"There will be a type of system in place at the new location," Chief Gillette said. "Senior airman and below will be able to visit the store, set an account up, and get needed items if they find themselves in a rough financial spot."

Mrs. Heidi Whelan, current manager of the base thrift store in its old location, said the merger is a result of the entire Ellsworth community coming together to consolidate services to better serve Airmen.

"The whole base has come together on this project," said Mrs. Whelan. "(The 28th Communications Squadron) had a one day turnaround to get the phones in. AAFES generously donated their jewelry display cases after getting a remodel themselves ... it's just been amazing.

"I'd like to also thank Lt. Col. John Allen and Lt. Kenneth Santos from the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron," Mrs. Whelan continued. "All of 28 CES has been wonderful in getting the supplies we need to turn a warehouse into a shop we can be proud of."

Mrs. Whelan echoed Chief Gillette's commitment to ensure keeping a system in place where Airmen can still find the help they need if experiencing a difficult time in their personal life.

"This new location will be one central place for everyone to drop off donations," Mrs. Whelan said. "We'll definitely keep a type system in place for E-4 and below should they need it."

Ellsworth's Enlisted Spouse's Group president, Mrs. Laurie Schlecht, said the specifics on what the system will look like to assist junior enlisted is still being worked between the ESG and OSC. But, she knows the bottom line remains that there will be a user friendly procedure in place.

"We're having meetings with the OSC to figure out a really good system for our junior enlisted to get things for free or at a reduced cost," Mrs. Schlecht said.

Ellsworth's first sergeant corps is also on board with this merger and said the bottom line is this program is designed for Ellsworth to help their own.

"This merger will still allow our junior enlisted to get things they need," said Senior Master Sgt Adam McNair, 28th Maintenance Squadron first sergeant. "But, this new system will keep the first sergeants in the loop of what's going on with our people. If someone needs help, they'll go through the shirts but there's absolutely no negative impact to their career. We'll get them the short term assistance, in the way of needed items at little or no cost, right away and that also gives me an opportunity to refer them to financial counseling and other avenues of assistance if they need it."

Col. Scott Vander Hamm, 28th Bomb Wing commander, said he is certain this new capability is the right move for Ellsworth's Airmen and their families.

"More bases are consolidating various services to better serve their Airmen," Colonel Vander Hamm said. "This new initiative gels the right products, the right volunteers and the right location into one comprehensive package. I sincerely believe this is a good thing for our military community. The officer spouses club, the enlisted spouses group and everyone else that pulled together to make this happen have my deepest thanks."

The consolidation of the Airman's attic, which is not governed by any Air Force directive but at the local commander level, and the thrift store merger is directly in line with the Air Combat Command commander's directive to reduce the operating footprint of each base within the command by 20 percent before the year 2020.

The grand opening for the new facility, which has yet to be officially named, is scheduled for May 2, 9 a.m.

For more information on the new facility or to submit ideas concerning how to implement a beneficial assistance system for the junior enlisted, email Mrs. Schlecht at ellsworthesg@yahoo.com.