Fort Carson volunteer receives national award

By Crystal Ross (Fort Carson)October 2, 2014

Fort Carson volunteer receives national award
FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Commanding General Maj. Gen. Paul J. LaCamera, 4th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Carson, leads a round of applause for Amy Chaffin, second from left, who received the Novella Gibson Whitehead Award Sept. 25, 2014, from ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT CARSON, Colo. -- Joint Task Force Carson volunteer Amy Chaffin has been recognized for her service by the National Military Family Association. She was presented with the Novella Gibson Whitehead Award Sept. 25.

"It's very humbling, because I look at how much the association has done and how many thousands of military Families that they've impacted, and it kind of made me realize how much more there is to do for military Families," Chaffin said.

At the urging of two friends, Chaffin began volunteering with the NMFA in 2011 when her husband, Lt. Col. John Chaffin, was stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

"I do a lot with military Families and volunteering, and it fit in well," she said. "The thing that I like about the association is that, in my current role within the (Family readiness group), we provide understanding of resources to military Families. What the association does is help get those resources -- identify what needs are there and then help push and lobby for those resources to come into play.

"I have a chronic volunteer problem," said Amy Chaffin. "Since John has been on active duty, I have volunteered in one capacity or another."

Those volunteer roles have included FRGs, Santa's Workshop, her children's schools, Boy Scouts, Ivy Mountain Layette and Catholic Women of the Chapel.

The Chaffins and their two children, Leslie and Jack, came to Fort Carson in 2012, where they have continued their volunteer service.

She said her entire Family shares her "chronic volunteer problem."

Jack, an eighth-grader, is working on becoming an Eagle Scout; Leslie, a high school senior, has been the Fort Carson Youth Volunteer of the Year for the past two years. John also volunteers with Boy Scouts. In addition, the Family sponsors a cadet from the U.S. Air Force Academy.

"I think that fundamentally, not only was my husband called to serve, but I was called to serve with him, and that's the best way that I can use my talents and my strengths to effect change," Amy Chaffin said.

Founded in 1969, the National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit organization focused on issues important to military Families. The association advocates for benefits and programs to strengthen and protect uniformed services Families.

The Novella Gibson Whitehead Award was established in 1998 by the NMFA's Volunteer Services department. The award recognizes people who best fulfill the duties and responsibilities of their appointed positions: identifying, studying, researching and evaluating issues relevant to the quality of life for military Families.

According to the award citation, Amy Chaffin advocates for military Families to become familiar with the Interstate Compact for the Educational Opportunity for Military Children so parents can ensure their children's schools are following the intent of the agreement. During her time with the NMFA, she has raised important issues, such as the Army's change in background checks, requiring those who volunteer with children to agree to have their medical and behavioral health records reviewed.

The citation also says Amy Chaffin introduced the association to numerous military communities and helped mentor and welcome new volunteers into her area.