2nd Air Force team comes to aid of needy family

Published Jan. 6, 2010
By Lt. Col. Michael Murphy
602nd Training Group (Provisional)

KEESLER AFB, Ms. -- Thanks to the 602nd Training Group (Provisional) and 2nd Air Force headquarters, a local family enjoyed Christmas in the truest sense.

As the duty day wound to a close on Christmas Eve, air expeditionary force Airmen deployed to Keesler with the 602nd TRG(P) learned of a 14-year old boy who called a local charity in search of food for his family. The young man's family was in desperate need of food and assistance. Unable to react quickly enough, the charity turned to the Air Force for help.

In a few hours, Staff Sgts. Jason Ahlman and Kimberly Wright triggered a flood of food, gifts and over $420 in donations from the 602nd TRG(P) and 2nd Air Force personnel. Airmen scrambled to wrap toys and personalize Christmas stockings for each child. A Christmas tree with ornaments was acquired and grocery items valued at almost $300 were purchased. Santa's sleigh was ready to fly.

With the assistance of a global positioning system, Santa's sleigh found its way to the home Marisol Majorado and her children in Saucier, Miss. The five children, ranging in ages from 3 to 15 years old, gathered around as Sergeants Ahlman and Wright, Staff Sgt. Latoleya Hayes and Master Sgts. Troy Thomas and Hareech Carswell unloaded food and gifts for the entire family. As her son translated, this young mother expressed her gratitude and appreciation for the love and kindness showered upon her and her family.

The 602d TRG (P), commanded by Col. Kevin McGlaughlin, is a total force team of permanent party and deployed AEF personnel providing fully combat mission capable Airmen in support of the joint expeditionary tasking mission directed by the Air Force Chief of Staff. The 602 TRG(P) oversees 7,500 JET Airmen annually attending combat skills training at Army installations throughout the country to ensure Airmen meet pre-deployment requirements for in-theater tasks to include provincial reconstruction teams and police transition teams.

Second Air Force, headquartered at Keesler, is commanded by Maj Gen Mary Kay Hertog. Second Air Force oversees four training wings and 92 field training units around the world providing technical training in 250 Air Force specialties through 2,500 courses graduating 245,000 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and international students annually in a variety of career fields.