Base unveils new teen center

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nathan Allen
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Disgruntled teens on base who claim they have nowhere to go no longer have an excuse now that a center just for them has opened up on base.

Col. Greg Otey, 19th Airlift Wing commander, Maj. Debbie Horne, 19th Force Support Squadron commander, and Lisa Stone, 19 FSS deputy commander, officially opened the base's teen center in a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 3.

According to Col. Otey, the teen center is just one example of the support the base gives to the families of deployed Airmen.

"Airmen deploy, but the families remain behind with the toughest Job. Families work through the myriad of issues that arise when their loved ones are deployed. We need to continue to provide all we can in support of our Air Force families."

The Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff have designated July 2009 to July 2010 the "Year of the Air Force Family" - an Air Force wide initiative to focus on the hardships and needs of families and how family life can be made to be more compatible with Air Force life.

"This updated teen center is a great way to reinforce and support our families in the year of the Air Force family," Colonel Otey said. "Our intent is for our teen center to improve the quality of life for our families, and specifically our teens. It's tough being a teen, especially with a mom or dad deployed. This teen center will give our youth a place to get away and gather with other teens to socialize, relax and bond."

Lee Groce, 19th FSS youth programs director, echoed Col. Otey's comments regarding the importance of giving teens a place to go.

Teens need a quality space they can call their own. These are tough times for teens with so many parents being deployed and this is a great reflection of the base's commitment to the quality of life for families.

Groce also agreed that the base's opening of the teen center is consistent with its ongoing efforts to support military families.

"Our main youth center building is getting renovated, within the last few years a new [child development center] has opened up as well as a CDC annex," he said. "The base is continually showing that families are important by putting its time, resources and energy into funding projects like this."