Car care because we care

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Sean Landau auto skills mechanic, raises a car to change oil and do a visual safety inspection Feb 10, 2010. The Auto Hobby Shop and the Airman & Family Readiness Center offer free oil changes to eligible spouses of deployed members. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Cory Todd)(Released)

Car Care Because We Care

Published Feb. 8, 2010
By Heidi Hunt
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- When servicemembers are faced with a deployment, spouses at home are left to manage household activities. The Auto Hobby Shop, in conjunction with Airman & Family Readiness Center here, offers a car care program to aid spouses of deployed members.

"The focus of the 'Car Care Because We Care' program is to keep the primary family vehicle of active duty Air Force members in top running condition by providing preventive vehicle maintenance," said R.D. "Smitty" Smith, 509th Force Support Squadron community readiness consultant

According to "Smitty", eligible persons include spouses of active duty Air Force members deployed for more than 30 days, spouses of active duty Air Force members assigned to a remote tour, and first-term Airmen assigned to their first duty station who receive a personal financial assessment.

"This is our family's first deployment and I appreciate programs the Air Force provides while my husband is deployed," said Krystal Baggett, whose husband is scheduled to deploy. "Vehicle maintenance is one less thing for our family to worry about while he's deployed. It is good to know a program like this exists."

Maintenance includes oil and filter change, and safety checks.

Those eligible should contact the A&FRC at (660) 687-7132 to obtain a car care certificate. Patrons can then take their car care certificate to the Auto Hobby Shop to receive the free services. For Auto Hobby Shop hours of operation, call (660) 687-5689.