CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Wyoming News Now) – The Adopt an Airman program began as a thought in 2018 and in 2019 it became a reality, matching new airmen at F.E. Warren Air Force Base with many different families in Cheyenne.

Justin Niece, A1C at F.E. Warren joined the program and his interest was hockey and hockey coaching, that is when he was paired up with the Hesser family and was given an opportunity to coach, although being in a higher role than he expected.

A1C Niece says that “I mentioned my interest to them that I wanted to coach for a long time now and I kind of said hey is there anyway I could assistant coach for the team and they basically told me from there that uh ‘were kind of missing a head coach’ so I kind of ended up as head coach instead”.

Justin then took on the role, becoming head coach and taking the reigns of the Cheyenne Capitals 8u hockey team.

“Its nice to see the players develop and grow you know get to have those relationships with the players that are like ‘oh my gosh coach nice to see you’ I love that part”. said A1C Niece

One of the players that Justin coaches is McKenna, who is the daughter of the Hesser family says this when asked if Justin is a great coach.

McKenna said “yes”. When asked why? “Because he teaches me lots of stuff”. And some of the stuff includes, “like how to play hockey”. (Said with some help with Coach Niece)

The Hesser family has been paired up with two airmen, and they say that the Adopt an Airman program not only gives them a new family member, but it gives the airmen a home away from home.

“Its been a really great program its definitely given our airmen a place to kind of land that’s not in the dorms and stuck on base all the time kind of get them out of their own space and out in the community and doing some fun things. Said Megan Hesser “At home we’ve got our own right now ice rink in the backyard that he comes over and helps Grayson and McKenna so its a good time”. Said Justin Hesser.

Keith Vanleuvan, 1st Sgt. of the 582nd helicopter group and representative for the Adopt an Airman program says that the program doesn’t just give the airman a home away from home, but it gets them engaged in the community.

“And to help integrate them into the air force, into adulthood and into the community especially Cheyenne, Cheyenne has just been such a wonderful community to the Air Force and to the mission here, anything we can do to create a better relationship is something we wanna do”. Said 1st Sgt. Vanleuvan

Carolyn Ritschard, program director of Adopt an Airman says that the impact that this has on the airmen goes a long way, and that the bonds keep the airmen in touch with the family, no matter where they are.

“One thing that we’ve noticed is life long relationships are being developed that these airmen as they are playing together with the host family and growing together and learning together that they build these relationships and these bonds that were hearing now that as airmen have moved away they’re still in touch”. Said Carolyn.

For more information visit the Adopt an Airman’s website.

Visit Cheyenne Capitals website for more information.

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