McConnell spouses take on 'Operation Holiday Surprise'

Published Dec. 16, 2011
By Senior Airman Abigail Klein
22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- It's not Christmas yet, but that didn't stop the McConnell Enlisted Spouses from presenting more than 200 McConnell Airmen and families from receiving an early gift Dec. 15, 2011, at the base commissary.

The gift was part of "Operation Holiday Surprise." The event was a no notice surprise available to Airmen in the ranks of staff sergeant and below who passed through the check-out line at times randomly selected by the spouses. This is the fourth straight year that the ESC has sponsored the program.

"There is never a set time because it's supposed to be a surprise. Even some of the ESC members do not know when we will be doing this and members participating in the presentation are given only a couple hours notice," said Melissa Flint, ESC social chair. "The surprise is important because that's part of the gift; when it all comes down, we're all big kids at heart."

The preparation for the "operation," began months in advance as the spouses received money from a variety of McConnell organizations including the Friends of McConnell, Mulvane, Kan., American Legion Post 136 of Mulvane, Kan., and its Legion Riders. The Legion was the first group to donate to the ESC. The donation of $500 dollars encouraged the members of the ESC to keep continuing to raising money for the event. All together, the spouses raised more than $5,000 dollars to give to Airmen.

With no notice, Airmen traveling through the express checkout line were given a $25 gift card. Those who went through a traditional check-out lane received a $50 gift card.

One of the Airmen surprised was Airman 1st Class Derek Sennett, 177th Intelligence Aggressor Squadron intelligence operations analyst. He is planning to take a trip to New York with his wife.

"I was caught off guard, but it's a good surprise because I wasn't really wanting to spend a ton of money [on groceries] since we're getting ready to leave for Christmas vacation."

The cards were hand carried by members of the ESC, including vice president Amanda Chastain, who recently won Air Mobility Command's 2012 Joan Orr Air Force Spouse of the Year Award.

Chastain said the importance of the program is more than giving the Airmen a few extra bucks, it's knowing that their Air Force family is there to help them.

The ESC will continue to surprise Airmen throughout the holiday season. The amount of support for the donations for the 2011 Operation Holiday Surprise has made ESC members hopeful for continuing the program for a fifth year.