New website streamlines volunteering

INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey  — U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa has received approval from the Air Force Personnel Center and Air Staff to pilot a new volunteer program website before it goes live Air Force wide.

The new website application makes it simpler for active-duty members and civilians to post, search and log volunteer opportunities and hours in the local area by connecting volunteers with the organizations that seek them.

“This program empowers volunteers to tailor their experience to the opportunities available in the Incirlik community,” said Angela Spatz, a 39th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center community readiness consultant. “The web program will also allow the A&FRC the ability to recognize each registered individual’s time and efforts that support our base.”

The web app, located at www.myairforcevolunteer.com was created in similar fashion as the Presidential Volunteer Service Award website with suggestions and feedback from users to make the site even better.

The registration process was designed to be user friendly. There are two steps, including creating a username and password and validating the account through email. For all other processes on the website, easy to follow instructions and how-to videos are provided under the “How-To” tab.

Base clubs and organizations may also sign up with the site to post upcoming events that require volunteers. To register, military or private organizations should use a recognizable name and a reliable email address. After the account has been established, the account holder(s) can post as many events as needed and should include all relevant information for the events such as what, when, where the event is and any main points of contact.

Volunteers and units can also use the site to track total volunteer hours on a specific event and post internal events that are only viewable to users who “favorite” the group in their personal settings.

“Feedback is crucial to this new website success,” said Shon Wagner, a 31st FSS community readiness specialist and website designer at Aviano Air Base, Italy. “If users have an idea or something that will work better another way, click the link titled ‘Feedback’ and let me know. If users are being silent, but there are aspects that are bothering them, the website will start to lose its popularity and no one will use it. If ideas are being sent to me, I will try and implement them as soon as possible.”

(Editor’s Note: Airman 1st Class Deana Heitzman contributed to this article.)