Funding the Fourth: Ingenuity ensures support for base celebration

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Allie Delury
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  While many bases around the Air Force are planning to celebrate Independence Day 2013 with minimal fanfare, Team Aviano is completing the final touches on a Fourth of July celebration which will feature multiple high wire acts, a car show, increased food booths and fireworks.

The base is able to host its annual celebration despite budget cuts across the Department of Defense thanks largely to the ingenuity of the 31st Force Support Squadron planners and the assistance of a robust network of base volunteers.

"I really thought we were going to have to shut it down," said Col. Brent Vosseller, 31st Fighter Wing vice commander. "FSS really examined the constraints that we were given and all the available options that we had and we were able to mix and match opportunities to ensure that the funds would be available."

Services and events on base are funded from two pools of money: appropriated funds and non-appropriated funds. After nearly $400,000 was cut from FSS following the sequester, the use of government-allocated appropriated funds which pay for base events and employee salaries became extremely limited.

Instead of relying on APF to fund this year's Fourth of July, FSS will be using profits from the golf course, bowling center and other NAF organizations on base.

"This demonstrates why base facilities like the golf course are so important. Every one of those rounds of golf and burgers from the grill results in money which comes back here and ensures that we can have these types of events," said Lt. Col. Tyler Schaff, 31st FSS commander.

Another large contributor in funding this year's celebration is the role of corporate sponsorship and marketing.

"Already we have roughly $6,000 donated in cash and another $6,000 in supplies like water and beer mugs that will be handed out for free during the event," said April Marling, 31st FSS Community Services Flight chief and Fourth of July coordinator.

This year's main event will be two high wire shows performed by a family based out of Germany. After working with the Armed Forces Entertainment, FSS was able to solidify a date for them to come to Aviano prior to sequestration taking effect.

"They offered it up on numerous dates and we said, 'wouldn't that be cool if we could do that on the Fourth of July?'" said Schaff. "So, we worked ahead of time with the Armed Forces Entertainment and they gave us the Fourth of July date about six months ago."

Last year's main event included music and dance performances by Electric Youth and U.S. Air Forces in Europe Band's Check Six ensemble. As a cost-saving alternative to bringing in bands this year, AFN will be broadcasting live and playing music.

"That saves us a lot of money since we don't have to pay for a sound system or a stage," said Marling.

One particular challenge this year is the funding of civilian employees, who are unable to work overtime during the holiday and use money from APF. In order to mitigate the long lines for food and limited manning for set-up, the event will be relying on the help of volunteers and private organizations.

Youth programs, which use NAF, will work overtime to help with the Kids Zone, while outdoor recreation will be manning the climbing wall.

"We owe our volunteers a huge debt of gratitude because we have that piece of 'Americana' that we're going to be able to experience because they've dedicated their time and effort," said Vosseller.

This year, Markos, the bowling center and Sabinas will be among the food options available. In addition to the NAF organizations, private organizations will be manning more food booths than last year which will increase the number of food choices and decrease the overall wait time.

"The biggest challenge is trying to make it the same or better with less," said Marling. "Even though it's more work, everyone still puts forth their best effort and works together."

Marling has planned the last three Fourth of July celebrations on base, and despite the financial restrictions for this year's event, she remains hopeful for the final outcome of the celebration--sentiments echoed by leadership on base.

"It was an extremely difficult task for them to come up with ways to fund the event," said Vosseller. "We're a young country living in an old country, so it's nice to celebrate our heritage and our history despite the fact that it's only celebrated once a year."