Adopt-A-Road

Master Sgt. Desmond Ojeda, Detachment 93, 495th Fighter Group and Marie Douyon, Homestead Job Corps Center pick up trash along Southwest 288th St., in Homestead, Fla., on April 3. Fifty Airmen, Coast Guard and civilian employees from Homestead Air Reserve Base teamed up with students from HJCC to pick up trash and spend some time with each other as part of the Adopt-A-Road program. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Nicholas Caceras)

Base teams with Job Corps to beautify and mentor

Published April 5, 2013
By Senior Airman Nicholas Caceras
482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- A group of over 50 Airmen, Coast Guard and civilian employees from Homestead ARB teamed up with students from Homestead's Job Corps Center to pick up trash and spend some time with each other on April 3.

As part of Miami-Dade County's sponsored Adopt-A-Road program, members met early Wednesday morning to clean litter along a one mile portion of Southwest 288th St., in Homestead. The group collected almost 200 pounds of debris.

"It was extremely rewarding and refreshing to be able to help the local area and do team building with the Job Corps students," said Airman 1st Class Eddy Perez, 482nd Mission Support Group.

The quarterly trash cleanup is an excellent opportunity to beautify the community and allows military members from the base to spend time and mentor the Job Corps students. The base continues to actively improve the community through outreach, mentorship, and volunteerism; members have expressed interest in the next cleanup.

"Homestead Air Reserve Base is a product of our community. It's important for our leaders and military members to give back," said Chief Master Sgt. Cameron Kirksey, Command Chief, 482nd Fighter Wing. "The opportunity for our military members to help mentor the Job Corps students is beneficial for all parties and we are lucky to be able to participate."