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No Line Between Us: How Military and Civilians work shoulder to shoulder on Edwards AFB

  • Published
  • By Adam Bowles
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  

About 75% of Edwards Air Force Base's direct workforce is civilian with roughly 25% being military: a statistic you probably haven't known.  But, if you pass any gate on base you may notice the barrier between military and civilian is not as big as you may think.  

"For us being civilian we come from different backgrounds," Officer Raynard Manibusan, 412th Security Forces explained. "So it is good to integrate, work together and we learn from each other. We work so close hand in hand with everything."

More than two million public employees protect the nation through service in the armed forces, and more than 183,000 of them are Air Force civilian full-time, part-time, term, temp and nonappropriated fund Airmen.

Often working behind the scenes in support of their military teammates, civilians help provide a stable foundation at installations worldwide, shouldering in-garrison missions to enable military members to deploy in support of overseas contingencies.

Manibusan is a new civilian police officer under 412 SFS and he says it's only beneficial to work together hand in hand for the same goals and mission.

"There are other agencies such as Fire Department, local law enforcement, highway patrol that are civilian agencies," Manibusan explained. "There are CE, LRS, units like that so having that comradery especially if you have it within the entire base makes working together a lot easier.

Sharing the military perspective, Senior Airman Devin Malcolm, 412th Security Forces, explained that bridging the two backgrounds share different perspectives and ideas to conquer the same goal.

"You're never wrong with the more the better," Malcolm said. "It's fun to work together with a bunch of military people don't get me wrong, but it's nice to have a few different faces, backgrounds and ideas to put into the workforce so they can help us accurately police the base.

Leadership stressed this comradery only strengthens the team dynamic.

“Our civilian team members are invaluable to our mission and our family,” Capt. Andrew Metz, 412th Security Forces, explained. “In addition to providing a diverse background and compliment of experience, they also provide a level of continuity that is impossible to achieve with active duty personnel. Our civilian officers are experts on this installation and how to do the job, and I am proud to see them sharing their knowledge and mentoring our Airmen.”

 

 

Edwards provides care, opportunities for children aged six weeks through high school graduation

Edwards provides care, opportunities for childrenaged six weeks through high school graduation

The Child and Youth Program at Edwards AFB provides care and opportunities for kids ages six weeks old through high school graduation. A brief summary of those services follows:

  •                    The Child Development Center cares for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years, with a DOD-wide curriculum. The curriculum is focused on learning through play activities supporting social, emotional, physical and intellectual development. Installations across DOD follow the curriculum on the same timeline to allow seamless permanent change-of-station transitions for youth enrolled in care.
  •                    The School Age Center provides before and after-school care and summer camp for children ages 5 to 12. During school breaks, full-day camps are offered. SAC promotes cognitive, social, emotional, cultural, language and physical development through programs that encourage self-confidence, curiosity, self-discipline and resiliency.
  •                    The open recreation program at the Main Youth Center provides a safe space for ages 9 to 12 to attend after school. Programs include Power Hour, STEM, Torch Club, social recreation, youth camps, special events and more.
  •                    The youth sports program provides intro and league opportunities for ages 3 to 12, and promotes inclusiveness, self-discipline, commitment, resiliency and social skills. There are four sports offered annually for ages five to 12: baseball/softball, soccer, flag football and basketball. Smart start programs are available to ages 3 to 5. There are many other sports and camps offered throughout the year.
  •                    The Teen Center is available for ages 13 to 18 during the school year. Programs offered include Military Youth of the Year, Keystone Club, social recreation, STEM activities, college trips, leadership camps and more.
  •                    Youth programs (SAC, open rec and teen) are affiliated with the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and 4-H.
  •                    Family Child Care homes – there are currently three FCC homes on the installation. They can provide care for ages two weeks to 12 years. FCC providers are trained by Child and Youth Program training and curriculum specialists and have the flexibility to determine their hours of operation and the ages of youth within their care. The program’s new dedicated manager, Jennifer Stegmann, may be reached at 661-275-7529.

Although CDC enrollment capacity is 317, not all slots are currently filled because of a shortage of childcare workers. School Age Center enrollment capacity is 156. After-school care enrollment is 130. Before-school care enrollment is 75. Summer Camp 2022 was at its capacity and enrollment for Summer Camp 2023 opens April 3.