Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering isn’t just about helping others; it’s also a chance to learn new things, meet new people, have some fun. Volunteers rise to the call for service and can participate in various types of activities. Shaw’s Volunteers help to bridge relations within Shaw AFB and between the base and the city of Sumter. This web page serves as a one-stop shop for all DoD ID card holders and their family members who are interested in donating their time and efforts in the overall community.

Shaw AFB Volunteer Resources

Volunteer Positions

Off-Base Volunteer Links

Links to volunteer opportunities off-base can be found here.

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Volunteer Recognition

Volunteers are an integral part of making the Shaw Community run smoothly. Those volunteers who stand out are recognized in a variety of ways.

Quarterly Awards

Volunteer Incentive Award. This award is provided based upon the number of hours a volunteer contributes to the Shaw AFB community per quarter. Volunteers/volunteer supervisors/organizations who submit volunteer hours compete for a nominal award depending upon the number of hours contributed and the available resources for this award. Awards may include 20th FSS coupons, Shaw AFB volunteer parking pass, AAFES coupons.
Volunteer of the Quarter. One civilian and one military member are recognized as the Volunteer of the Quarter. Volunteers are nominated by the same process used for military and civilian of the quarter. Call for nominations are announced from the 20th FW/CCC’s office. Volunteers are nominated by various base organizational commanders and or volunteer supervisors by completing an AF Form 1206 and submitting the form to 20FW_qrt/annualawardspackage@shaw.af.mil. All volunteer of the quarter nominees are then forwarded to the Airman & Family Readiness – Community Readiness Consultant, who will
consolidate the volunteer nominees and present the nominees via email to the volunteer award board members. Volunteers are boarded by three volunteer advisory committee members who will select one military and one civilian volunteer per quarter to be recognized at the wing quarterly awards ceremony. Volunteers are recognized and awarded with various items donated by the community and or wing.
Volunteer Annual Award Ceremony. VAC board members in a joint effort will develop a budget and funding method for the annual volunteer recognition ceremony. This annual ceremony is normally held in April during National Volunteer Appreciation Week. This event is in appreciation of all Shaw AFB volunteers who contribute their time and effort to the enhancement of the Shaw AFB community. VAC board members are to maximize annual event participation, plan, develop, discuss funding and fund raising events, best time of day to host event, key players, invitations and marketing. VAC board members may generate subcommittees, i.e, food, decoration, fund raising/requests, program development to include MC, singer, programs, recognition/award items, give-aways/gifts, set-up, breakdown and clean up volunteers are needed for this event. VAC members are encouraged to consider and identify other necessary items needed to host the annual volunteer event.
During the annual event all our volunteers are appreciated and one civilian volunteer is recognized annually through the Volunteer Excellence Award which is presented to one volunteer for devotion to volunteerism over an extended period of time.

Volunteer Excellence Award

The Air Force Volunteer Excellence Award (VEA) was established to recognize federal civilians, family members, military retirees and federal retirees who perform outstanding volunteer community service of a sustained, direct and consequential nature. Please read more about this award here.

Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal

The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM) is a military award which was created under Executive Order 12830 by George H. W. Bush on January 9, 1993. The medal was designed by the Institute of Heraldry and was first issued in December 1993. The Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal recognizes those members of the military (active duty, reserve and national guard) who perform substantial volunteer service to the local community above and beyond the duties required as a member of the United States Armed Forces. Such volunteer service must be made in a sustained and direct nature towards the civilian community, must be significant in nature to produce tangible results, and must reflect favorably on the military service and the United States Department of Defense. Read more about this award here.

Mission of VAC

Mission to serve as a governance structure offering overall volunteer guidance and management of the Shaw AFB volunteer program.

Purpose of VAC

To maximize volunteer service opportunities, obtain adequate resources to offer the services and to recognize Shaw AFB volunteers for their volunteer contributions.

Responsibilities of the VAC Committee

The VAC is very important to the overall function of the Shaw AFB Volunteer Program. The VAC is supports the mission and purpose of the VAC to meet a successful outcome. The VAC Committee places into consideration the planning which may be operational (day to day), short term (make recommendations, suggest quarterly (operational), annual (operational), or long range, or strategic with will be comprehensive and to be very forward looking. Board members must be extensively involved in the planning process, assume proper ownership of the plan and help to implement many of the plan’s goals and objectives including the recognition of volunteers and the acquisition of new resources.

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FSS Event Volunteer Form

Contact Information