Great Falls offers great friends to Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Cortney Paxton
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Members of the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce and Malmstrom Air Force Base leadership gathered at Meadowlark Country Club on Oct. 30 for an orientation to the Great Falls Great Friends program, which allows Chamber members, Department of Defense civilians and retired military members to sponsor Airmen in the Great Falls area.

"This is a program where the Airmen at [Malmstrom] and the local community volunteer to participate by signing up to be a sponsor or to be sponsored," said Joann Gogo, Chamber member and GFGF partner. "... The sponsored [has to be] an Airman ranked E-1 to E-5 or O-1 to O-3. The sponsored Airman and the sponsor will be matched up based on the application form that both parties fill out."

Airmen and their sponsors will be matched up according to common interests; however, if the sponsor and Airmen have a connection, they can be matched up upon request as long as both parties fill out an application.

"Col. [Robert] Stanley brought the idea to my attention when I was hired as the community support coordinator," said Lori Muzzana, GFGF program coordinator. "He took the idea from a conversation he had with one of the community leaders. He developed the idea of calling it 'Great Falls Great Friends.'"

Getting the program to the application stage proved to be a lot of hard work for Muzzana; her job consisted of a lot of research and development of every aspect involved in the program.

"I spearheaded the program, contacted the Chamber of Commerce about partnering with them and contacted the Air Force Academy to research their 'adopt a cadet' program," she said. "The materials (application, tri-folds and handbook) were next to be developed. All materials were run through our legal office for approval. The Chamber of Commerce representatives came up with the idea of holding a launch social for their members where they could learn about the program and obtain an application to sponsor an Airman."

The program allows Airmen to have sort of a "home away from home" with the individuals who sponsor them; it also gives the community members a chance to get to know Malmstrom Airmen. Airmen ranked from airman basic to staff sergeant and 2nd lieutenant to captain may apply to be sponsored regardless of how long they've been on station.

The program is strictly voluntary so applying to be sponsored is not required; however, the community members are ready to get the program off the ground, so participation is encouraged.

"The Great Falls community has a strong relationship with the military and we are always asked, 'What can we do for the young Airmen at Malmstrom,'" Gogo said. "The members I have spoken to have shared how happy they are to hear that such a program exists and are excited to participate in the program."

Several applications were turned in during the orientation to the program by individuals hoping to be sponsors.

"The [program gives the Airmen an] opportunity to experience Great Falls by getting involved with our community and creating a strong and lasting friendship and also to be able to call Great Falls their home away from home," Gogo said. "[This also allows community members] the opportunity to build a strong long lasting friendship with the Airmen that live and work in our community and to also afford them an opportunity to be with a family throughout their tour here."

Interested individuals may pick up applications at the Great Falls Chamber of Commerce located at 100 1st Ave. N., or call the Chamber at 761-4434 or Muzzana at 731-3481 to have one emailed to them.

Included with the sponsor applications will be a GFGF handbook that outlines several different, military-related items, including military acronyms, sponsor qualifications, core values and life at Malmstrom, rank structure, responsibilities and a quick reference telephone guide.

For more information on the program, contact Muzzana at 731-3481 or via email at 341MW/CVB@us.af.mil.