Supporting our most valuable resource

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Perry Aston
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The Air Force Assistance Fund is an excellent way for military members to give something back to the Air Force, not by buying more aircraft or funding new initiatives, but to assist the Air Force's most valuable asset; the people.

My first interaction with the AFAF was at RAF Lakenheath. I had only been working here for a few months, and this is my first duty station.

After getting married, I moved out of the dormitory on base and into the town of Mildenhall. Between gaining a dependent and trying to get my basic housing allowance, my finances were not in the best of shape for day-to-day living, let alone if an emergency came up. However, that is exactly what happened.

I was driving from RAF Lakenheath to my house in Mildenhall when I came across a construction area. I knew it would be a bit of a wait at the light, so I put my car into park. When the light turned green, I put my car back into drive and the torque from the engine broke the axel in half. Not the best timing.

Luckily, an Airman and his family were behind me. He and his son helped me push my car to the side of the road and offered me a ride home.

Afterwards, I had to spend the rest of the day finding a rental car so that I would be able to get to work the next day. The only car that the rental agency had to offer was the most expensive. I had to spend $400 to rent a car, on top of having to pay to get the car fixed.

The mechanic's estimate said my car would cost $55 to fix plus $190 for the new part. I was struggling as it was and now I was down almost $650 that I did not have.

During the next week, my supervisor told me about the Falcon Loan. I went to the Airman Family and Readiness Center to find out more information.

When I got there, they had me fill out a form and asked me about my situation. The woman I spoke with explained to me if I qualified for the interest free loan, there would be a $50 deduction from my paycheck every month until it was repaid.

The loan was for $500 and did not cover all the expenses, but without it I would not have been able to get my car repaired to get to work.

If it had not been for the contributions of my fellow servicemembers to the AFAF, the Falcon Loan would not exist and I would have been without a car, without money and without a way to get to work.

The AFAF campaign will run from March 10 to April 21. For more information, contact your unit representative.