AFOSI gives back to the community

  • Published
  • By Mr. James C. Dillard
  • AFOSI Public Affairs
MCB QUANTICO, Va. --  When people think of the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, their first thought probably isn't about landscaping.

But that's the volunteer mission OSI members engaged in Oct. 31, when they traded in their badges and guns for shovels and wheel barrows to spruce up the grounds around an Action in Community Through Service (ACTS) facility.

ACTS is a community service agency that works in the northern Virginia area to alleviate hunger, homelessness and domestic violence, and to help people achieve self-sufficiency. They operate and maintain many transitional living homes and thrift stores.

When the OSI team arrived at the ACTS location, they immediately went to work at preparing the area to plant some young trees. They built up the earth to help trap the moisture for the small saplings, and leveled them out to ensure they grew as straight as possible.

Some of the neighbors came out of their homes to check out what the OSI agents were up to. One man commented that he was very happy to see the lot was being improved and even offered some planting advice.

OSI Special Agent Matt Simmons was one of the volunteers digging holes and planting trees.

"This is the type of project we love to volunteer for," said SA Simmons. "The ACTS organization goes above and beyond to assist those in need. We're lucky to have had the opportunity to be here to support them."

For more information on the ACTS program, visit www.actspwc.org