IDC puts Airmen in control

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Timothy Moore
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The Installation Dormitory Council, here, is giving Airmen the opportunity to take control of the quality of life on the dormitory campus.

The IDC is an organization designed to allow several Airmen representatives the opportunity to present ideas and concerns that affect the living standards of dorm residents directly to the base leadership.

"This is an opportunity for Airmen to not only expand their leadership abilities but also to get things rolling on something they want to put into place or action for the dorm campus," said Chief Master Sgt. Dawna Cnota, 355th Fighter Wing command chief.

The IDC is composed of Airmen living in the dorms, the base command chief, chief master sergeant representatives, first sergeants and Unaccompanied Housing Airmen dormitory leaders. However, the Airmen are expected to be the leaders of the council.

"We are there to help them and guide them through the process of making changes or talking about whether or not the thing they are proposing is a good idea," Cnota said.

Airmen representatives from each dormitory building will be selected to be a part of the council and bring forth ideas and concerns.

"Each building should have a few representatives, who would form a council for that building," said Tech. Sgt. Jessica Lauwers, 355th Civil Engineer Squadron Unaccompanied Housing section chief. "They would go around their building and talk to the Airmen about their needs, wants and concerns."

Airmen are usually identified by their first sergeants as possible candidates for the IDC. However, Airmen are allowed to nominate themselves.

"Really anyone in their leadership can nominate the Airman, but their first sergeant ultimately would send us a memorandum for record stating why the Airman would be a good fit for the IDC," Lauwers said.

Typically, the IDC meets once a quarter with the expectation that building councils would meet at least once a month. Building council meetings are meant to allow members to identify the needs of the Airmen in their dorms.

"When we have the IDC meeting, that typically should be each building's representatives going together and talk about what their needs are," Lauwers said. "If three buildings are saying they need the same thing, it would be a good way for us to say, 'This is the key priority of the Airmen in the dorms.'"

Meetings are not restricted to IDC members, dorm residents are encouraged to join the council and take ownership of their residences.

Airmen are also not limited to suggesting facility changes; they also give their opinions about different functions they would like to see held in the dorms.

"We have a booster club," Lauwers said. "It's the Desert Lightning Team Dormitory Booster Club. Right now our office is in charge of it, but what we really want is for it to go back to the Airmen. If we get the IDC strong enough, like we need it to be, we would have officers from that council elect officers for the booster club."

The booster club would allow Airmen to conduct fundraisers to support fun activities for the dormitory Airmen such as pool parties, masquerade balls and barbecues.

"I want to see them take ownership of this dorm campus and turn it into what they want it to be," Cnota said. "There is a lot of potential in these dorms."

Currently, IDC meetings are being held once a month to rekindle Airmen's interest in their residences. The next meeting is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 13 at 1:30 p.m. at the Loft.

For more information about the IDC, contact the Unaccompanied Housing Office at 228-3003.