Batter up! Reserve Citizen Airmen trains future leaders on the field and court

  • Published
  • By Debbie Gildea, 340th Flying Training Group Public Affairs

Parents could spend a small fortune on developmental guides, gurus and trainers to help prepare their children for the future, or they could follow Master Sgt. Randy Alvis’ lead and set their kids up for success for the affordable price of a pair of basketball shoes or a baseball glove.

 

Alvis, 340th Flying Training Group noncommissioned officer in charge of personnel systems management, spends his evenings and weekends coaching his and others’ kids in the fundamentals of baseball, or officiating youth basketball.

 

According to research conducted by LiveStrong.Com®, playing sports offers children more than just physical benefits. Sports typically help kids academically and socially as well. And, the benefits are the same whether or not a child excels at the sport.

 

Socially, children learn to interact with others their age, as well as adults (including coaches) and sports officials. Sports teaches kids team-building, leadership and communication skills.  Those skills help them become more successful academically, as well, and the participation in sports coupled with the academic success leads to stronger self- esteem. Oh, and playing sports enhances their physical health, as well.

 

All of those benefits are great, and certainly among the reasons Alvis chooses to mentor children through youth sports. But, his biggest reason is pretty small. About 45 pounds.

 

“I volunteer every season for several reasons. For one, it allows me to spend quality time with my son Landon, so that I can teach him and other kids the fundamentals of basketball or baseball,” Alvis explained.

 

A Reserve Citizen Airmen for more than 10 years, Alvis is an Air Guard Reserve (or AGR) status member assigned to the 340th headquarters. Prior to this assignment, he was at the 433rd Mission Support Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, and was assigned to Duke Field in Florida prior to that.

 

With six-year-old Landon already playing sports, 23-month old Lucas slated to play (when he’s tall enough to swing the bat), and a little girl due in September, Alvis will be contributing to kids’ success (his and others’) for years to come.

 

The Marion, Texas native is fine with that. 

 

“I’ve seen youth sports leagues - and even entire organizations - crumble in past because not enough kids signed up, or members of the community wouldn’t volunteer for adult roles, like coaching and officiating. I had a great experience with youth baseball when I was a kid and I want to ensure my kids and all of our community kids get that same opportunity,” he said.