First sergeants give back

Senior Master Sgt. Kyle Scafidi, 647th Civil Engineer Squadron first sergeant, pumps gas for Senior Airman Matthew Konstanzer, 647th CES, during a surprise Air Force Hawaii First Sergeants Association gift card giveaway event at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 23rd, 2015. The event was a way for the association to give back to joint base members after their successful Operation Warmheart fundraiser campaign last year, providing the first sergeants an opportunity to give pump gas for customers and give away $25 AAFES gift cards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Martinez)

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First sergeants give back

Master Sgt. Tina Timmerman, 613th Air Operations Center first sergeant, pumps gas for a shoppette customer during a surprise Air Force Hawaii First Sergeants Association AAFES gift card giveaway event at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 23rd, 2015. The event was a way for the association to give back to joint base members after their successful Operation Warmheart fundraiser campaign last year, providing the first sergeants an opportunity to give pump gas for customers and give away $25 AAFES gift cards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Martinez)

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First sergeants give back

Senior Master Sgt. Jessie Castillo, U.S. Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Operations Center Air Force Element first sergeant, gives an AAFES gift card to a shoppette customer during a surprise Air Force Hawaii First Sergeants Association AAFES gift card giveaway event at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 23rd, 2015. The event was a way for the association to give back to joint base members after their successful Operation Warmheart fundraiser campaign last year, providing the first sergeants an opportunity to give pump gas for customers and give away $25 AAFES gift cards. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Martinez)

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First sergeants give back, provide relief at the pump

Published Jan. 27, 2015
By Staff Sgt. Alexander Martinez
15th Wing Public Affairs

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Hickam shoppette customers received quite the surprise Jan. 23 when they were greeted by Air Force first sergeants offering to pump their gas and giving away gift cards.

The giveaway was an event organized by the Air Force Hawaii First Sergeants Association. During the holidays, the organization collected donations for Operation Warmheart, an annual fundraiser that supports charitable donations to service members and their families throughout the year, and disperses a majority of its funding during the holiday season.

Master Sgt. Alfred Wells, 15th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron first sergeant and organizer of the event, said the gift card giveaway was their way of giving back after a successful Operation Warmheart campaign.

"The holidays are an expensive time of year for many families so we decided to wait until after the holidays to do something to help offset costs," Wells said.

The first sergeants gave $2,000 worth of AAFES gift cards, each worth $25. When a customer approached a gas pump, a first sergeant approached them, greeted themselves and took a few moments to chat before offering to pump their gas. Many of the gift card recipients were E-5 and below with dependents.

"It's a joint-base event so it doesn't matter what branch," Wells said. "We're trying to help those younger individuals with families to help their pockets."

Senior Airman Matthew Konstanzer, 647th Civil Engineer Squadron, said he was surprised and thankful for the first sergeants' willingness to help.

"This is pretty cool -- I didn't expect it at all," Konstanzer said. "It shows that they are there for people so it gives people financial help and comfort."

Wells thanked AAFES for their support and help with the event. He also said events like this make him proud to be a first sergeant and help others.

"This is just awesome," Wells said. "Giving back is one thing that I have truly love to do."