Tuesday, April 12, 2016
The U.S. Army recognizes volunteers’ extraordinary service and during Volunteer Appreciation Week, highlights the volunteers’ contributions and accomplishments.
Volunteers are essential to the Army’s mission. They give their time to the Army community by serving Soldiers, Families, retirees and civilians. From leading Family Readiness Groups, to coaching youth sports, to assisting administrative offices, volunteers are critical to building strong communities.
The theme for this year’s Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 10-16, is Army Volunteers: Lifting Spirits, Touching Lives.
The Army Volunteer Corps (AVC), managed by Army Community Service, is a program which people use to find volunteer opportunities, log service hours and receive support and guidance. AVC aims to strengthen volunteerism by enhancing volunteers’ career mobility, establishing partnerships with off-post organizations and promoting a life-long commitment to service. AVC coordinators are planning events to formally show their appreciation to volunteers such as recognition ceremonies with garrison leadership presence.
The Army will also give the Emma Marie Baird Award for outstanding volunteer service to individuals who contributed 3,750 or more volunteer service hours over a five year period. The award, named in honor of Army Community Service’s founder, is signed by the Army Chief of Staff and presented to each volunteer at their garrison. This year, retired Army Lt. Col. C.J. Buche, a volunteer from Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Virginia, will receive the award.
The Army continues to recognize volunteers as a valuable resource and tool that extends the Army’s budget by millions of dollars annually. AVC will continue to provide both on-post and off-post volunteer opportunities for Soldiers, Families, retirees and civilians. AVC will also continue to provide in-person support to volunteers and foster partnerships with the surrounding communities.
Volunteers make a meaningful difference in the lives of Soldiers and their Families every day. Thousands of volunteers devote their time regularly by serving the Army community. Volunteers are able to accomplish community work which would have not been done otherwise due to time constraints and financial limitations faced by the Army. The support of volunteers’ assists in fulfilling the Army mission. The Army is appreciative of the volunteers who are selflessly giving their time back into the community.
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