Airmen at Wolf Pack ‘Committed to Excellence’

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephen Collier
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Their name says it all. Junior-enlisted Airmen, each 'Committed to Excellence,' reflecting the name of their organization with the acronym 'A.C.E.' and working to make the lives of their fellow Wolf Pack Airmen a little bit better each day. 

The organization, serving Kunsan now for only a few years, has grown by leaps and bounds. From a group charged with taking Airmen's concerns to wing leadership, A.C.E. has slowly morphed into a vibrant, growing organization, sponsoring on and off-base activities while keeping their finger on the pulse of Airmen here. It's that knowledge of what Airmen need that makes A.C.E. so important, according to Senior Airman Steven Doty, organization president. 

"Airman Committed to Excellence is an organization set to assist the Airmen of Kunsan; with a primary focus on E-4 and below," Airman Doty said. "We're committed to providing the resources, activities, services and programs necessary for a smooth tour [at Kunsan], understanding separation from family and friends at home can be difficult." 

The organization received its start in 2004. Then, in a limited capacity, the organization answered and addressed issues Airmen had, most of which centered on the base's living conditions. As time went on, A.C.E. took on a more dominant role of not only representing Airmen in front of wing leadership, but raising funds to host activities specifically for Airmen, by Airmen. 

In 2006, A.C.E. wrote another chapter into its history when the 8th Fighter Wing and Seventh Air Force-funded Wolf's 'A.C.E. in the Hole,' a non-alcoholic facility. The facility offers 18-20 year-old Airmen a place to kick back and relax after the work week with access to free internet, large screen televisions and video game consoles. 

"The A.C.E. in the Hole offers Airmen a place to unwind, away from alcohol," said Senior Airman Shenequa Johnson, A.C.E. vice president. "It's available on the weekends and also makes a great meeting place for organizations or small clubs."
"Airmen represent a large percentage of the Air Force and, in particular, Kunsan," Airman Doty continued. "A.C.E. is the voice of that percentage at Kunsan. We're the single most important organization when it comes to Airmen. Junior-enlisted Airmen are full of energy and ideas, and we provide the means to express that energy and those ideas in an organized setting." 

Airman Johnson echoed Airman Doty's comments, adding A.C.E. is important because 

"it's a council for Airmen, run by Airmen."
"One definitive thing that stands out to me about A.C.E. is the impact we have on Airmen," she said. "Whether it's providing career and education information to the events and ideas we provide we try to make a year away from family more bearable. When Airmen need help, no matter when or where, there's a group of people who can relate and assist, without making it feel as though there's an authority figure involved."
But A.C.E. is much more than just a focal point for the Wolf Pack's Airmen. 

Recently, the organization collected and distributed approximately 475 English-written books to a local Gunsan City library, giving those local residents immediate access to English reading material. 

Airman Doty also said A.C.E. is working with the Korean American Friendship Association to act as American representatives at various activities sponsored by the organization as well as sponsoring Airmen-specific trips to local orphanages.
With all the A.C.E. organization undertakes, support from wing leadership is critical to accomplish the organization's goal of "Airmen helping Airmen." That support hasn't passed by Col. CQ "Wolf" Brown, 8th FW commander. 

"Having an organization such as A.C.E. at Kunsan shows exactly how our young Airmen are capable of accomplishing great things," Colonel Brown said. "It's important to stand behind the activities and programs Airmen create for other Airmen, especially while being stationed at a remote assignment away from family and friends. I'm very proud to have such motivated Airmen a part of the Wolf Pack." 

A.C.E. general meetings are typically held the first Tuesday of each month. For more information on A.C.E., call Senior Airman Steven Doty at 782-4106.