Money for Airmen Published Dec. 6, 2011 By 1st Lt. Laura Balch Nellis Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The Air Force has begun a new program, entitled the Single Airman Initiative Program, which pays for certain Airmen to participate in recreational activities or life-skill classes. The SAIP, which is endorsed by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, 99th Air Base Wing command Chief Master Sgt. Vincent Marler, will run from December 2011 through February 2012. According to this program, the definition of a "single Airman" is any Air Force active duty or Air Force Reserve Component officer or enlisted member who is single or unaccompanied and between the ages of 18 and 25. This program is targeted to help this group of single Airmen specifically, but, technically, it is open to all personnel who are authorized to use FSS facilities. The following are examples of recreational activities, equipment and life-skill classes that eligible Airmen can ask SAIP to fund: - One-day trips with the Information, Tickets and Travel office - One-day trips with Outdoor Recreation - Paintball competitions - Photography tours - Xbox 360, Wii or Playstation tournaments - Movie nights - Zip lining on the 1.5 mile course in Boulder City - Indoor skydiving - Horseback riding - Various shows in downtown Las Vegas - Sporting events - Golf lessons - Cooking for One classes - Photography classes - Vehicle maintenance classes - Classes with a personal trainer - Cookie/cake decorating classes - Website design classes - Self-defense classes This program is derived from ideas that arose during the 2010 Caring for People Forum, the 2011 Single Airmen Summit and single Airmen focus groups. To take advantage of this program, Airmen stationed at Nellis, Creech or the Nevada Test and Training Range should choose an activity or class that they want to participate in, either something that is already offered on base or something they know about that takes place in southern Nevada, and contact the Nellis Community Center. A community center representative will record Airmen's requests and apply for authorization to pay for the activity or class. (Note: the greater number of Airmen who are interested in a particular activity or class, the greater the chance that the SAIP will pay for it, as long as it is an authorized activity or class.) For more information about this program or to submit a proposal for SAIP, call the Nellis Community Center at 702-652-5014. Additional information about this program is also available on the 99th Force Support Squadron's website: www.nellisforcesupport.com.
