JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Joint Base MDL Airmen are geared up for the 2021 Air Force Assistance Fund campaign. The campaign started this month and runs until April 16. The goal is to encourage Airmen to contribute donations toward affiliated AFAF charities that assist active duty, retired, enlisted, and officer Airmen and Guardians with emergency needs, educational assistance, and family support.
“Every dollar makes a difference,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Christopher Osborne, 305th Maintenance Operations Center superintendent. “This is a great opportunity for our Airmen to help out other Airmen who are going through financial strife.”
Master Sgt. Osborne volunteered to inform Joint Base MDL Airmen about the AFAF campaign. MSgt Osborne believes it is his duty to help as many Airmen as he can, because he was once a recipient of AFAF aid.
In the year of 2008, Osborne received news that his grandmother passed away. When he first heard about it, he had barely passed two years in the U.S. Air Force, while stationed on Dyess Air Force Base, Abilene, TX. Even though his grandmother’s funeral was held in Queens, N.Y., Osborne made it his mission to arrive at her wake.
“The Dyess AFB was separated from other major cities. So, I tried to reserve flight tickets for me and my wife at a regional airport in order to get to the airport in Dallas,” said Osborne. “Unfortunately, airline prices were steep and I had no money in my savings account.”
At that time, Osborne did not have any knowledge on finance and credit, which became an obstacle for him. With limited time, Osborne went to various banks to apply for a loan, but the banks failed to process his application, since he had no credit background.
“I needed money, as soon as possible, and did not want to miss out on my grandmother’s funeral,” said Osborne.
While trying to find solutions to overcome his obstacle, Osborne discovered the Air Force Aid Society, one of the AFAF affiliated organizations, from a briefer who visited his squadron. The briefer encouraged him to contact the Airman Family Readiness Center and speak to a counselor about the Air Force Aid Society. Osborne proceeded to call.
“After stating my situation, the counselor instructed me to fill out an application,” said Osborne. With a sigh of relief, he stated, “As soon as I filled out the application, I received the loan!”
When he received his loan, with zero percent interest, Osborne was able to afford his flight tickets to New York, and successfully arrive at his late grandmother’s funeral.
Once he returned from New York, he found that paying back the loan was just as easy as getting it.
“The Federal government automatically deducted some money from my paycheck to pay back the loan, depending on what payment plan I set up,” said Osborne. “I was able to pay off the loan in a few months, with great success. No harm, no foul!”
Osborne’s personal experience with AFAF aspired him to volunteer, as a briefer, about the organization and inform other Airmen and Guardians about the benefits that it offers.
“When Airmen make donations, they are saving the life of another fellow Airman,” said Osborne. “This is the endgame that we strive for.”
If you would like to contribute to the AFAF campaign, then please log into the website: www.afassistancefund.org or go to the AFAF Facebook social media page.