Earth Day: Conserve Today - Secure Tomorrow

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Schneider
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  Today, the Air Force observes Earth Day by showing its support for the environment and highlighting its efforts to support the Air Force's Earth Day theme of "Conserve Today - Secure Tomorrow."

This year, Air Force activities are focusing on sustainability, referring to the capacity to continue the mission without compromise and operate into the future without decline - either in the mission or the natural and man-made systems that support it. Sustainability is important to making sure that we have and will continue to have, the water, materials and resources to protect human health and our environment.

Many factors contribute to the sustainability of an installation including energy dependence, hazardous chemical usage and water resource management.

Environmentally-conscious installations enhance the force's overall sustainability, and Earth Day serves as an opportunity for Airmen and their civilian and contractor counterparts to recognize how their everyday actions impact the earth and implement the types of changes that can "secure tomorrow."

"Setting aside one day out of the year and bringing the focus on how simple things like not wasting energy or water helps build awareness that can become normal everyday behavior," said Michael Reyes, 97th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental management systems programs manager at Altus Air Force Base, Okla.

Altus, along with several other installations, focused largely on the earth's future decision-makers and aimed several educational Earth Day activities at children.
Altus organized a recycling center tour for area children, as well as an Earth Day booth at the base's Exchange.

Fifth graders are participating in essay, poster and mural contests at Joint Base Charleston, S.C.

The 82nd Civil Engineer Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, has established an annual event geared toward neighboring elementary schools. The "Generation Green" event was held April 8, with the base partnering with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service to educate local third graders on environmental issues such as recycling, wildlife, plants, and pollution effects.

Many events focused on educating all ages.

Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., organized a self-paced, one-mile "eco-hike," which includes approximately seven stops offering educational interaction with civil engineers from various programs including recycling, energy, forestry, endangered species, invasive plants and cultural resources. The base has also organized a clean-up event.

"Our actions today to protect and conserve will ultimately ensure a sustainable and secure future for our mission to fly, fight and win," said Brian Kelly, the co-chair of Eglin's Earth Day committee.

The Air Force Civil Engineer Center in San Antonio, Texas, is partnering with the Bexar County Master Gardeners to educate personnel on the benefits of water conservation through landscaping practices like xeriscaping, and is also teaming up with the Lackland Recycling Center to provide recycling tips and information.

Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., organized a week-long series of Earth Day activities aimed at raising environmental awareness. Planned events include nature trail clean-up, shoreline clean-up and planting, rain garden maintenance, tree planting, and a rain-barrel workshop.

The installations agree that sustainability is not only the responsibility of the Air Force as a whole, but of each and every person -- not just on Earth Day, but every day.

"Sustainability means a commitment to environmental protection and conservation," said Mike Mallozzi, 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron pollution prevention manager at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. "We hope to show [the community] Earth Week and sustainability is not once a year - it involves continual improvement and protection of the natural environment around us."