Air Force Aid Society aids local Airman; all Air Force members can benefit

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mercedes Porter
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  
The Air Force Aid Society has been helping Airmen and families, to include Airmen and families of Dyess, in need for over 75 years.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Osborne, 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aerospace ground equipment production support noncommissioned officer in charge, had first-hand knowledge of how AFAS can be helpful in trying times.

Osborne said he completed a direct-duty transfer from the Air National Guard into active duty in 2012. His rank was downgraded from senior airman to airman first class on day one, which he found to be a large pay difference.

“My first three months were a little rough,” Osborne said. “I had bought a $40,000 truck that I had no issue paying for with my civilian job; but with the transfer, I found I was putting almost an entire paycheck into it. My finances started driving me crazy and had me stressed at work.”

During his financial struggle, Osborne’s production supervisor mentioned the AFAS to him. His supervisor told him that in a pinch, the AFAS can help him out and to see if he meet their criteria to get an interest-free loan.

“It took maybe an hour to go through all of the paperwork to get approved,” Osborne said, “Then I walked over to the bank with a check in hand and cashed it to pay off the overdue balance for my truck, which was almost repossessed."

Osborne described the AFAS as a light at the end of a tunnel which helped him get back on his feet financially and helped relieved the built-up stress.

A few years later, he found himself in another financial crisis with a mortgage. While stationed at Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, he owned a house in Arizona, which he rented out to people. Three months went by and with no renters renting the house, he then had to begin paying out of pocket for mortgage.

“It was going on three years that I had never missed a payment,” Osborne said. “I began selling everything I owned trying to pay it.”

As another month went by, he began to see that he would go delinquent on his payment. He decided to go back to the AFAS office to try and get accepted for an interest-free loan, which was approved.

After paying the due mortgage, he was able to find renters for the house which relieved his stress.

“They helped me stay on top of my finances, which is important,” Osborne said.

All of AFAS’s help for Osborne was made possible by generous donations from people willing to help Air Force members.

The AFAS accepts donations from everyone and anyone wanting to help Air Force members and their families. Money can be donated online at the AFAS official website at https://www.afas.org. Last year alone, $15 million in total was provided for Airmen and their families across the Air Force in time of need.

“When people donate money to the AFAS, it goes to Washington D.C. for the big pot and gets used for the Air Force members across the board,” said Ron Hooks, AFAS assistance case officer.

The AFAS is one of four charities that fall under the Air Force Assistance Fund.

For more information about these programs, visit http://www.afassistancefund.org or call the Airmen and Family Readiness Center at 325-696-5999.

Editor's note: This article is the first part of a two-part series involving Airmen who benefited from the AFAS and their programs.