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AFSC "Troop Greeters" ...
The Armed Forces Service Center (AFSC) embarked upon
this rewarding mission in October 2006, after the director received
a satellite call from a Marine in Iraq (2nd LT. Bridgett),
requesting assistance for his unit en route to their base in
Hawaii.
In addition to providing food, shelter and assistance
for over 760,000 active-duty military that have passed thru our 24
hour airport facility. The AFSC has a core group of thirty
volunteers that serve as "troop greeters." These dedicated
volunteers have welcomed 227 military charter flights to MSP airport
(over
65,000 troops). The
volunteers that serve as 'troop greeters,' meet-n-greet combat
troops at all hours, via military charter flight or bus. To date,
they have also welcomed 500 military charter buses (20,000 troops).
The AFSC 'Troop Greeters' work with the VA Medical Center, to assist
the wounded as they transit thru the airport. And, the local
military when requested to provide assistance for the fallen.
WCCO TV coverage of the AFSC 'Troop Greeters' 200th
Military Flight on March 10, 2011.
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2011/03/11/the-volunteers-behind-the-troop-greeters/
Our meet-n-greet flights pale in comparison to our
respected
counter-parts in Bangor -- but, we are equal in the gratitude
expressed by the combat troops we have served.
Please scroll down for an overview of our
meet-n-greet efforts to date.
Minnesota's Best Kept Secret ...
Like the Armed Forces Service Center, our troop
greeters are also "unique" to Minnesota. Not only do these
volunteers volunteer in our 24 hour facility, they also --
* Set-up a complementary mobile canteen for all troop arrivals at
MSP (24/7).
* Arrive 2 hours prior to the military flight to set-up the canteen
*
Transport various items for troops to the gate on
several flat bed carts
* Wear embroidered blue denim AFSC "troop greeter" shirts
* Have MSP airport security badges.
*
Stay at the gate until the charter flight departs
(or is delayed).
*10/5/2006
-
First flight welcomed by AFSC "troop greeters."
*9/17/2008 -
Longest time troop greeters spent with troops (27 hours).
*4/1/2009 -
One-hundredth charter greeted by AFSC.
*7/1/2010
-
Largest arrival of troops (530)
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2010
October
October 22, 2010
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A heartfelt
THANK YOU, to everyone that heeded my call for
assistance.
·
Delta Airlines- Wade, Nic, Joe, Dan, Bill,
Andrew, Kenny, Kristin, Dave, Mike, Greg, Alan, Bill & Cargo
·
US Army (88th RSC) -
SFC Kolk, SSG Alcantar, SGT Priest, SGT Zierdt, SPC Kemp
·
AFSC Troop Greeters - Rick, Kathi, Jerry, Jodi,
Ann, Linda, Jeanne & Anne.
_10-22-2010.jpg)
88th RSC soldiers with the New London "Cookie Ladies"
- Kathy Harley, Becky West & Sue Anderson
_10-22-2010.jpg)
New London sent
7 cases of cookies for distribution to combat troops (en
route to Afghanistan)
_10-22-2010.jpg)
Thanks to
U-Haul (APV), 130 cases of cookies were consolidated to
25 boxes for transport to AFG.
_10-22-2010.jpg)
ALL boxes were
labeled with this sign in memory/support of Pfc. Ryane Clark
_10-22-2010.jpg)
Troops off loading 25 large boxes of cookies in Afghanistan.
_10-22-2010.jpg)
September
AFSC 'Troop Greeters' were invited to Ft. McCoy, WI, to
meet-n-greet deploying troops (9/17/10)
September 2, 2010 -- The AFSC
"troop greeters" had the privilege of welcoming the
LAST flight of combat troops out of Iraq. The
soldiers from the Stryker Brigade, were en route to Joint
Base Lewis-McChord, in Washington State. A portion of the
284 troops greeted, consisted of combat Air Force pilots.
This arrival marks the 195th military charter flight (over
57,000 combat troops) welcomed by the Armed Forces Service
Center, since 2006. Minnesota Nice,
at it's best!!
July
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July 1, 2010 -
Troop greeters welcome 530 soldiers.
Muffins donated by Perkins Bakery & Restaurant.
Apples donated by Sam's Club (APV). |
June
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| June 10, 2010 -
Troop arrival. |
May
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| May 25, 2010 -
Target employee's assemble 2,500 "treat bags"
(for AFSC). |
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2009
November
AFSC Troop Greeters Welcome WWII Honor Flight
Veterans
In addition
to greeting 218 returning combat troops on 11/7/09. The AFSC
troop greeters also welcomed 107 WWII Veterans on the Twin
Cities Honor Flight. Six AFSC troop greeters were among the
fifty guardians on the flight.
After several flight delays and a LONG trip
to Minnesota ... returning combat troops line
up to shake hands (& take pictures) with WWII Honor Flight
Vets, on their way to Washington, DC.
October 2009
A Special
Homecoming ...
On Mother's Day, the AFSC
"troop greeters" welcomed two flights ...troops received
flowers and greeting cards (w/love from Minnesota). The
AFSC "mobile canteen" offers combat troops
complimentary, Caribou coffee, soft drinks, toiletries,
snacks, books, Costco muffins and Sprint cell phones.
From Killeen Daily Herald
Newspaper (5/10/09)
Herald/Catrina Rawson
Soldiers from the 1st
Cavalry Division prepare to greet their families during
a homecoming ceremony Sunday at Cooper Field on Ft.
Hood.
4/1/09 - 100th Flight
2/2009, McDonalds-MSP donated burgers& fries for
combat Marines
September 2008
AFSC Troop Greeters "welcomes"
troops.
Click on pictures for a full view
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Camp Layover...
AFSC "troop greeters"
stood watch over 320 Marines recently
stranded at MSP for 27 hours. The four troop
greeters (B. Baker, D. Cain, J. Connolly & J.
Morford) served as advocates to ensure all their
needs were met (i.e., blankets, pillows, food,
donated coffee, reading materials, Wi-Fi access,
playing cards, toiletry kits & phone cards) during
their long layover.
Many of the Marines commented that this was the best
experience they had ever had at an airport and were
impressed with how everyone at MSP was willing to
help them.
Finally, at midnight on Thursday, after a hot meal
and a heartfelt thank you and goodbye, the Marines
were able to take off, hopefully with the knowledge
that when they find themselves in Minnesota they'll
be treated to that same one-of-a-kind hospitality.
Before boarding the aircraft, the Marines thanked (&
applauded) the AFSC volunteers for standing watch
over them (24/7). The senior command was so
appreciative they "hugged" the four troop greeters
as they lined up to shake the hands of 320 Marines.
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Troop greeters also served as "lunch ladies."
(Pictured L to R, Jeanne Morford & Debra Cain)
All photo's by Betsi Baker.
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Honored
Guests:
On 9/13/08 the AFSC, Airport
Police, US Air, TSA & McDonalds "welcomed" ninety-six WWII
Vets, en route to Washington D.C. for the first Twin Cities
"Honor Flight." The day trip included visits to the WWII,
Korean, Vietnam and Women's War Memorials. In addition to,
the sixteen WWII women on the honor flight -- the AFSC had
nine veterans/volunteers, and four guardians/volunteers on
the trip.
They are; Bob Carstenbrock, Ken Fritz, Larry Hansen, Peggy
Hanson, Art Krick, Ed Nakasone Will Overacker, Bud Schwartz
and Pat Wysocky (former Executive Director of AFSC for 30
years)
Four AFSC volunteers (Dave Anger, Bob Nelson, Char Rholik,
Dave Youngquist) paid their way to serve as "guardians" for
the vets.
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Surprised and exhausted, 96 MN WWII
Vets were "welcomed" home
with cheers and applauds, from family
members waiting on the mezzanine.
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Debra Cain (AFSC Executive Director)
with
WWII Vet/AFSC volunteer Ken Fritz.
June 2008
AFSC Troop Greeters "welcomes"
soldiers.
Click on picture for a full view.
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| On 6/8/08, the
AFSC troop greeters "welcomed" soldiers from
Ft.Hood, and met Korean War
Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient,
Robert E. Simanek (PFC, USMC). |
New look for AFSC "Troop Greeters"
(35 embroidered denim shirts, courtesy of Kraus Anderson Construction May 2008)
Click on picture for a full view.
The Armed Forces Service Center has over
hundred and fifty dedicated volunteers, to help keep our
doors open 24/7. Among them, is core group of
volunteers that also serve as "troop greeters."
Over the past year, the AFSC troop greeters have welcomed
more than 20,000
combat troops to MSP (at all hours).
January 2008
AFSC Volunteers "welcomes"
soldiers to the MSP Airport.
Click on picture for a full view.
November 2007
McDonald's at MSP Airport joins AFSC
in welcoming troops.
Click on picture for a full view.
October 2007
AFSC Volunteers "welcome"
soldiers to the MSP Airport.
Click on picture for a full view.
AFSC Volunteers join NWA and
TSA staff, to "welcome" Marines to the MSP
Airport.
A
special THANK YOU goes to NWA and the TSA for all their
assistance!
Click on picture for a full view.
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October 2006
AFSC Volunteers Meet-n-Greet "America's Battalion," USMC
The AFSC received a call from Iraq to assist Marines en
route to their next assigned destination.
The Marines "greatly" appreciated all the efforts put forth
by the AFSC, MAC, USCBP, TSA, Guest Supply and Pearson's
Candy. There were sighs of relief for the treats in the MN
Twins bags, as well as, the Girl Scout Cookies, hot dogs,
cup cakes and toiletries. Not to mention, the opportunity to
shave and smoke! The best compliment we received was from a
young Marine who said ... "this is a very humbling
experience to see that so many Americans care."
A special thanks goes to the following people that joined us
to meet-n-greet the flight; MAC personnel, TSA personnel,
Airport Police, Jeanne Morford, Patti Carr, Dean & Marilyn
Greethurst, Georgeann Ozbolt, Ted Hoeben, Jeanette Roedler,
George Lewis, Bob Nelson, John Schleck, Karen Johnson, Len
Zabilla, Tom Dooley, Steve Moore, Susan Rasmussesn, and Char
Rholik. As well as, the volunteers that kindly offered to
stuff bags; Barb Dell, George Patton, Virgil Eckstrom, Fred
Crawford, Karen Hodge, Dorothea Johns, Jerry Connolly,
Merlin Shank, Annie Olson, and Janis Eastman.
Click on a picture for a full view
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August 2006
New Website!
Welcome to the new Minnesota Armed Forces
Service Center website! Feel free to look around and see
what we have! Courtesy of
Cloudnet
(St. Cloud, MN) |
| July 2006
Service Center
Volunteers Make the Best of a Disappointing Fourth of July
 After
48 hours of travel, seventeen Minnesota National Guardsmen
on leave from Iraq arrived at MSP at 11:20 p.m. on July
fourth. In the spirit of Independence Day, four "dedicated"
AFSC volunteers joined the director to make sure the
guardsmen were greeted with applause and patriotic gift bags
filled with Minnesota treats. Unfortunately, seven guardsmen
(from Duluth, St. Cloud, Bemidji, Watertown, Bismarck, Fargo
and Helena) missed their connecting flight. But even in
their disappointing situation, they were grateful to the
AFSC for a place to shower and sleep.
Several local television news outlets eagerly awaited the
guard's arrival. However, bad weather in Dallas delayed
their and many other flights, which was well past the 10
p.m. news deadline. A special thanks goes out to Teri &
Elizabeth Wold, Dean & Marilyn Greethurst, American
Airlines, the TSA and the Airport Police for the assistance
in making sure 17 National Guardsmen received a warm
Minnesota welcome home. |
| A
Father's Day Act of Kindness
Father's Day was made extra special
for some soldiers arriving home via MSP. Thanks to the
tireless efforts of a helpful friend with American Airlines,
Debra Cain of the Armed Forces Service Center was informed
that there were 18 soldiers coming home on leave from Iraq
on Father's Day. After making a few calls for volunteers,
the volunteer group (Janis Eastman, Teri Wold and Debra)
managed to arrive at the gate in advance of their arrival.
As the soldiers exited the plane, the
passengers at the surrounding gates began to applaud.
Service Center volunteers pulled four soldiers aside,
knowing they had connecting NWA flights at 9:30pm. "When we
approached the NWA ticket area, the agent directed us to go
to the first class counter," Debra explained. "As we waited
we noticed there was a gentleman standing at the first class
counter. When the agent called for the next passenger, off
we went."
"Just as I was began to tell the ticket
agent that we were trying to get these soldiers on an
earlier flight, the gentleman interrupted and asked, 'First
class?' I said no, they're flying coach. He replied, 'I will
pay to fly them first class!'"
Out of the four soldiers, the generous
gentleman paid for three to fly home (to North Dakota and
South Dakota) first class. He would have paid for all four,
but the fourth soldier was connecting to an Airlink flight
and first class was not available.
Not only were all four soldiers able to
depart MSP by 6:00p.m., (well ahead of their original 9:30
p.m. departure) they all arrived home with a big smiles on
their faces, and a memorable experience at MSP Airport
(thanks to the AFSC)! |
| May 2006
Brigadier General Charles
Barr wrote a letter to the Armed Forces Service Center on
May 5th, in gratitude for the warm hospitality he received
while on a layover.
Dear All,
I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere
appreciation for the recent outstanding hospitality and
kindness shown to me. During a layover en route home
from Kuwait and Iraq on R&R leave, I stopped in at the
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Armed Forces
Service Center. What a nice facility and gracious hosts
there to greet me when I entered the door. In particular
I extend my personal thanks to Otto Murray and Karen
Hodge working in the lounge area. Also thanks to Debra
Cain who was greeting and directing service personnel in
the main lobby of the airport. Again thanks for
everything. We love you all and thank you for your
service, too.
Sincerely, BG Charles J. Barr
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| April 2006
Girl Scouts Join Service Center in
Welcoming Troops to MSP
 On
Monday, twenty-nine volunteers with the Armed Forces Service
Center (AFSC) welcomed 293 army reservists from North
Carolina to the AFSC. The Girl Scout Council of Greater
Minneapolis (Troops 1408, 2612 and 2614) also assisted by
handing out boxes of cookies to arriving soldiers. After
staging AFSC throughout the day, the soldiers boarded buses
to Ft. McCoy The 108th Division will deploy to Iraq, after a
brief stay in Wisconsin.
In addition to assisting the above group, the AFSC
volunteers welcomed two combat wounded soldiers, escorted by
TSA. We also greeted four soldiers coming home from Iraq for
two weeks R&R, ten soldiers en route to Ft. Snelling for
soldier readiness processing (SRP) and four young recruits
bound for basic training.
A special thanks to Sprint, for sending
enough cellular phones to accommodate the group. The
soldiers greatly appreciated the opportunity to call home. A
heartfelt "thank you" goes out to everyone that assisted in
extending a 'Minnesota Nice' welcome and send off; the AFSC
volunteers, Airport Director's Office, MAC Landside office,
Airport Police, Keys Cafe and the Girl Scouts Council of
America. |
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