Volunteer Excellence Winner a Model for Parents, 910th Published April 27, 2007 By SrA Ann W. Jefferson 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Senior Master Sgt. Steven G. Bennett, an air transportation manager with the 76th Aerial Port Squadron here, was awarded the 910th's 2007 Air Force Volunteer Excellence Award from the Family Support Office at an Aerial Port group formation during the April UTA for his contributions in his hometown of Hudson, Ohio. The Air Force VEA was established to recognize federal civilians, family members, and military and federal retirees who perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature. As director of the Hudson's recreational youth soccer program, which consists of 800 children on 70 teams in grades K-12, Sergeant Bennett devotes more than 300 volunteer hours annually. He also serves on the soccer association's board of directors. Sergeant Bennett, who has been with the 910th for 18 years, said he became involved with the Hudson Soccer Association when his three kids started playing 13 years ago. He also played soccer as a child, then coached and refereed for the sport. Yet in addition, Sergeant Bennett also contributes more than 50 volunteer hours a year for the YMCA Princesses Parent-Child program in Hudson, Stow, and Kent, Ohio. As the 2006 Sachem (president) of the program, he was responsible for the management and organization of a program developed to build relationships between 250 fathers and their daughters. In fact, Sergeant Bennett's nomination package stated that he also received the Joe Friday Award for 2006, which is recognition by the Native American community for outstanding service in helping to build a strong community. "His desire to see his community build relationships and to continue positive programs for the youth of these towns not only has immediate results but will also have lasting results for years to come," Maj. Michael Hebenthal, the 76th TRO, wrote about Sergeant Bennett in the nomination. "His dedication to his community promotes a highly professional and caring image of the Air Force Reserve," Maj. Hebenthal continued. Janice Barnes, director of the 910th's Family Support Office, said the nomination process consisted of taking all nominations to a panel of a cross-section of the community here: senior enlisted, junior enlisted, an officer, a spouse. All the information was data-massed so the unit and other details of the person were unknown. The nominees were graded on a variety of service, commitment to community and overall impression. Everyone scored well, Barnes added. "His [Bennett's] in particular, though, models to other parents how to parent well. I talked to his coworkers, and they said he probably doesn't even realize he's modeling for others," Barnes said. Her frustration with people in uniform is that they're too modest and don't say enough about what they do for their communities. "But you can't underestimate that. I really want to tell them that they've done a great thing," she emphasized. The criteria for the VEA can be found under AFI 36-3009. The nominations must be submitted in time to be reviewed so the award can be presented during National Volunteer Week, which was April 16-20 this year.