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ACC honors Pam Kloiber with nomination

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  • By April McDonald
  • Editor
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  One of the biggest community supporters of Tinker Airmen and Sailors was recently honored by Air Combat Command.

Pam Kloiber, the co-founder and executive director/community liaison of Team Tinker's Home Away From Home host family program, was named ACC's nominee for the Department of Defense's 2016 Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher Distinguished Civilian Humanitarian Award. Her selection package will now move from ACC to Air Force level. The Fisher Award is given at the DOD-level annually.

"On behalf of the men and women of the 552d Air Control Wing I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Pam," said Col. David Gaedecke, 552nd ACW commander. "This is truly a tremendous accomplishment and a testament to her tireless efforts in welcoming new Airmen and Sailors to Tinker Air Force Base."

Mrs. Kloiber said she is very humbled and appreciative of the 552nd ACW for nominating her for this award and recognition.

The TTHAFH program began out of a tragedy. Three Airmen had been in a car accident, with two of them dying. Soon after, Mrs. Kloiber saw then-552nd Air Control Wing Commander Col. Greg Guillot at an event and the two of them began discussing the accident.

"He proposed the idea to me and I thought it sounded very exciting and worthwhile," Mrs. Kloiber said. "I never dreamed, coming up three years in June, the program would be so well received by the Airmen and Sailors. In addition, the program has gained the full support of base leadership and the community as well."

The program, which serves first-term Airmen and Sailors who are single and living in the dorms, started as a private organization in 2013, but changed the structure of the organization under the advisement of the base to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. There are now five board members, along with two military liaisons, who work together to ensure the organization's operation.

The goal of the program is to pair young service members with civilian host families to help alleviate the anxiety of being alone and far from home, often for the first time.
"These community hosts provide a welcoming place to relax and offer opportunities to have fun away from the stress of day-to-day work," Mrs. Kloiber said.

Since its inception, more than 328 Airmen and Sailors have been paired with over 70 host families. Today, there are 189 active participants and 60 active host families in the program that supports troops across Tinker, including Airmen from the 552nd Air Control Wing and 72nd Air Base Wing and Sailors from Strategic Communications Wing ONE. Mrs. Kloiber explained the difference between paired and active is due to service members moving out of the dorms for various reasons.

Mrs. Kloiber ensures those first-term members who want to participate are paired with families from the community that have similar interests and are willing to commit to the service member's full tour while at Tinker.

"They offer a welcoming atmosphere, giving the service member a safe and supportive place to spend time together by enjoying the family's daily activities," she said.
Hosts are vetted and interviewed for the safety of the service member.

Mrs. Kloiber's passion for the program and "her" Airmen and Sailors is evident. Thanks to her tireless efforts to get the program to where it is today, Team Tinker Home Away From Home has been praised by the Air Force and Air Combat Command. Last May, the program was presented at the ACC Commander's Conference in Norfolk, Va., as one of three best practices.

Since it was developed and implemented here, 12 Air Force bases have been in contact to learn how to begin a program in their area. Langley AFB, Va., has a program in operation and Kirtland AFB, N.M., is close to getting their program in full operation.

"It has been exciting to see the acceptance of TTHAFH and to see the benefit the program gives to first-term enlisted service members," Mrs. Kloiber said. "The stories I could share with you about the support our host families offer to our youngest warfighters is amazing."

Mrs. Kloiber said some troops in the program have lost family members while here and were unable to be consoled by a relative. Others have battled homesickness and have enjoyed a listening ear with their host family.

"Our host families have supported our participants through surgeries, wisdom teeth pulling, car buying and financial planning," she said. "In turn, the comments from the hosts and myself, as well, are that the reward we receive in supporting these fine young people is a life-long memory."

TTHAFH has also facilitated a young married group of first term Airmen and Sailors to help forma networking and support system for those who don't have a family unit to support them.

Mrs. Kloiber said it is important to thank the past and present military liaisons for their work.

"I feel strongly that the host families are our shining stars, opening their hearts and doors to support the service member," she said. "Reading about the past Fisher recipients and their accomplishments just shows me that I have so much more to do.

"Thank you Tinker for this awesome recognition, for allowing me the opportunity to serve in this capacity and to be the community wingman and shipmate to Tinker and our nation's finest warfighters."