GREAT FALLS — The holidays can be tough if you're far away from family and friends and Malmstrom Air Force Base hopes to help airmen with the adjustment.
The base is launching a pilot program called "Adopt an Airman" which matches community volunteers with airmen who share similar interests.
From shared meals to fishing and hunting trips, the program can serve as a memorable experience for airmen who are often away from home for the first time. The idea came from a similar sponsorship program at the US Air Force Academy.
"With my sponsorship program, I was able to go to a sponsor's house and have a meal there, rest there when I wasn't on duty," said 1st Lt Joshua Farris, who is organizing the program. "We're really looking for out of this program is to allow airmen to feel more at home in the Great Falls community for the short time they're able to be here."
There will be a social to learn more about the program on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Grizzly Bend on Malmstrom Air Force Base. Members of the public who want to learn more about the program or attend the social can call the Malmstrom Airman Family Readiness Center at (406) 731-4900. They can also email 341fss.fsfr@us.af.mil.
Those attending the social will need to provide their name, phone number, date of birth, driver's license number and state, and social security number. The information is needed to provide base access.
Interested hosts should also provide a list of hobbies and interests that will be used in the process of pairing with airmen. Approved community members will be matched with at least two airmen.
