Airman’s Council working for Minot’s Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Margaret Kroening
  • 5th Contracting Squadron
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The mission of the Minot Enlisted Airman's Council includes addressing quality-of-life issues, encouraging base-wide involvement for on-base Airmen and increasing their overall morale.

Before MEAC's conception in 2003, Airmen tended to rely solely upon their immediate chain of command for any concerns they had regarding personal issues or on-base events. MEAC was created to act as a liaison between Airmen and wing leadership.

For many new Airmen, it is often difficult to network with other wingmen here who work in different career fields. This limits contact between wingmen throughout the various squadrons. Issues such as these sometimes go beyond an Airman's immediate chain of command.

MEAC was created to close the gap in communication between Airmen and base leadership. The organization's representatives speak directly to leadership about today's concerns. Together, they work toward creating a new and better group dynamic here.

The council has been working hard to revive, in Airmen, the same kind of devotion that leads thousands of die-hard fans to football games all across America. The organization's leaders believe being assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command units here should instill in Airmen a greater sense of pride than it currently does.

Each year, four new officers are voted into the executive council from among Minot's most industrious Airmen. These self-nominated Airmen work to encourage pride in the base and to promote a positive reflection of their time spent here. It is through their efforts that the council strengthens the wingman concept, sponsors on-base events and supports professional development and heritage.

The organization's overarching goal is to facilitate information gathered from Airmen to the chain of command.

However, MEAC remains a largely untapped resource and needs the support of Airmen to succeed. Minot Airmen interested in participating in improving the quality of life at Minot Air Force Base are welcome to attend the monthly meetings to provide input or discuss concerns.

The Airman's Council meets on the first Tuesday of every month at 4 p.m. in the Community Center. For more information, please call 723-3260.