The 645th Aeronautical Engineering Systems Squadron (AESS) is in Greenville, TX, took some time out to celebrate families, restore their members, and rejoice in the holiday season and had a Christmas holiday function. The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) Northeast Texas Chapter 416 (AFA416) provided funding for the party and $500 for a grant from the AFA United Forces & Families (F2) to add family babysitting support.
The 6445h AESS mission is to rapidly acquire, develop, modify, modernize, test, deliver, field, sustain, and retire globally integrated, high priority weapon systems and capabilities for the Air Force. The unit, located on the L3Harris, Greenville, TX, plant provides oversight on all contract work accomplished for the RC-135 fleet and additional mission aircraft and systems worked by L3Harris. The members of the 645th spend large-amounts of time on travel working fielded aircraft modifications, testing, and other required operations for the fleets they serve. This puts stress on families and military members. Taking time out to celebrate and gather as a unit is a great health, morale, and welfare building effort.
New Northeast Texas Chapter 416 President, MSgt Zach Hill, said the AFA416 monetary support raised in a September 2024 golf fundraiser – another event held for the squadron and its supporters – and the grant provided by AFA F2 of $500, aided in ensuring a relaxing evening for the squadron members and their families. A special thanks goes out to AFA416 Community Partners (CPs), UHU Technologies, Charlie Baucom, and World Wide Lan Tex, Inc., Art Petty, for their generous support to “Inspire Military Service” and direct support for military units. These two CPs stepped up for this first ever ‘inspire-fundraiser’ event geared to draw attention to the AFA416 Advocate to Inspire Military Service (AIMS) efforts and the chapters specific support of military members as per their AFA ‘support’ charge.
Funds from the chapter and AFA national provided festivities for 120 attendees and childcare for ten families. “The childcare costs for the children of the ten families alone made all our fundraising efforts worthwhile,” said Hill. “Seeing the family members be able to relax and enjoy the time together was a great site and the work the AFA, both locally and nationally put into educating, advocating and supporting our military members is seen and greatly appreciated,” said 645th AESS, Commander, Lt Col Isaac E. Adcock. “We cannot thank our local and national AFA organizations for their help and support over the years, and for this specific gift of time together for our family, both members and our squadron,” said SMSgt Ashley Whitmore, 645th AESS, Senior Enlisted Leader.
Learn more about the Air & Space Forces Association at www.afa.org, about Northeast Texas AFF416 at www.netxafa.org, about how you can help inspire military service at https://www.netxafa.org/inspire-military-service/, and about how the AFA United Forces & Families (F2) is making a difference for our Airmen and Guardians at https://www.afa.org/F2 . You can reach the AFA416 team at TX***********************@af*.org or by calling 903-274-9981 (VP Comms, Vance Clarke).
