Travis providing better futures

  • Published
  • By Airman Michael Battles
  • 60 Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,CALIF. --  Being the Year of the Air Force Family, Team Travis is helping provide our youth with a brighter future. With the help of Operation Hero, teachers and volunteers are able to help students grow, learn and socialize in a positive environment.

Operation Hero is an Armed Services YMCA Program created at Camp Pendleton in 1995 to support children between 6 and 12 that are having temporary social and academic problems.

The focus of the program is to create a sense of personal responsibility and provide the motivation needed for students to succeed not only in school, but in the home as well.

"The program is geared to children who need extra attention, help with homework and social skills" said Emmie Sherertz, one of the children facilitators at Scandia Elementary. "The intimate groups allow students to grow and express themselves."

Students, who are recommended by teachers, parents and school officials, go through a 10-week course that focuses on themselves, family, friends, feelings, taking responsibility, conflict resolution and anger management.

"The program helps students get back on track, acquire life skills, instills a thought that they matter and how to make friends" said Joan Miller, program director of training and education at Scandia.

The program also uses a variety of exercises to help children progress in their development such as group activities that encourage children to participate, be active listeners and voice their opinion with supportive feedback.

Britney Strenn, a facilitator at Scandia of the best success cases was an introverted student who would not speak, or socialize with the other students. By the end of the program, the student was playing games and giving class presentations.

One key to the success of the program is the effort of the volunteers involved to meet the students at the level that they currently are and begin improving it with a specialized learning style specifically for that child.

"One of the reasons the program is a success is its run by the Air Force and the volunteers are all Air Force affiliated," said Lucy Salerno, principal of Scandia Elementary. "Students at Scandia are 100 percent military so the people involved in the program know what the students are going through."

The next session of Operation Hero runs from March 1 through May. Hours of operation at Travis and Center elementary schools are Mondays 2:30 from until 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 1 until 3:30 p.m. At Scandia elementary, the sessions are Tuesdays from 2:30 until 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 2:30 until 5 p.m.

Operation Hero is a program used by the Airman & Family Readiness Center as a tool to enrich the lives of our youth with its dedicated team and unique learning styles. For more information on getting students involved with Operation Hero, contact Joan Miller, program director of training and education, at tafboperationhero@gmail.com. One may also contact Mrs. Salerno at 707-437-4691 or lsalerno@travisusd.k12.ca.us.