Welcoming the ones who serve: New Dyess airmen tour Abilene hot spots

ABILENE, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) — Dyess Ai r Force Base, in cooperation with the Abilene Military Affairs Committee, is helping airmen who are recently stationed at Dyess familiarize themselves with the area.

This specialized tour is part of a newcomer brief that Dyess conducts for all of their incoming airmen. The Jumpstart Program allows any airman unfamiliar with Abilene a chance to orient themselves to the city. The new arrivals to Dyess were introduced to restaurants, museums, and other local hot spots for social opportunities. Dyess Welcome Center Manager, Airman First Class Sarah Clark, accompanied the roughly 50 new airmen group and shared more about this orientation program.

“Soldiers with families, we usually show them how we have the park with all the characters in it, and we show them all the different things that you can do collectively, like all the museums and all the little fun things and then singles, we usually just show them what you can do when you’re by yourself and how to make more friends,” Clark explained.

Clark went on to outline how familiarizing those newly stationed at the base with key attractions throughout Abilene allows for heightened morale amongst their soldiers and that it helps the families and children of those soldiers find places to help them adjust as well.

Their tour ended in downtown Abilene, where Airman Ryan Shiflett from Georgia spoke about how the Jumpstart Program helps soldiers in many different situations.

“I think it’s amazing, especially for the airmen that might not necessarily have a car, something like that, that they can just drive around town in so that, you know, once they do get that car, they already know where to go and the places to go see,” Shiflett shared.

Airman John Douglas is originally from Jacksonville, Florida, and he outlined how the program also helps him meet others in similar situations.

“Outside of everything that they’re telling us about, all the opportunities and activities, it gives us a chance to meet other new people here and kind of do a little bit of networking,” Douglas added.

Most U.S. military bases typically have a base orientation briefing. However, Dyess Air Force Base stands out as one of a few bases that reaches beyond its walls and engages with the local community. These efforts are made possible through the support of the Abilene Military Affairs Committee, which is dedicated to helping airmen and their families integrate into the Abilene community. The Committee has contributed to Dyess Air Force Base through various programs and initiatives, including the maintenance of Dyess’s memorial park and the organization of an annual barbecue that has been a tradition for more than 50 years.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.