376th EOG makes difference in the air, on the ground Published Feb. 14, 2008 By Maj. Adriane Craig 376th Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan -- When Senior Master Sgt. Reynold Albright of Air Mobility Command Air, Space and Information Operations received his deployment orders to Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan, he knew as the 376th Expeditionary Operations Group superintendent he would a part of a unit making a difference in the skies over Afghanistan. He wasn't disappointed. Working through the highest fall operations tempo for Manas in more than four years, the group logged 783 sorties that off-loaded more than 43 million lbs. of fuel to nearly 2,000 U.S. and coalition aircraft during his rotation. But what he didn't know is he and other volunteers from his group and the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron - the C-17 detachment at Manas - would also make a difference on the ground in Kyrgyzstan. In their limited personal time, Sergeant Albright and about 40 other volunteers actively engaged in their village partnership with the mayor who leads the villages of Vinogradnoye and Vasilievka. The partnership has meant the steady revitalization of the township 'kindergarten', which in Kyrgyzstan is preschool aged children from about 2 to 6 years of age. For about the past two years, the operations group has been sending volunteers to the village to spend time with the kids and help renovate or clean the facilities. Projects have included fixing floors, painting and installing a hot water heater so the school kitchen could have hot water to clean dishes. This rotation the EOG team has made progress on some major 'wish list' items for the school, including installing and insulating dozens of windows before winter started. They also raised money for some additional heaters for the school, a simple gesture that in the coldest winter on record in decades, has made a huge difference. They also raised money to match funds of the villagers wanting to install a fence around the school to make the children's play area safer. According to Sergeant Albright, the EOG has contributed almost 700 hours and raised $2,000 to make these wishes a reality over the past four months. The school and the mayor had a chance to show their appreciation for the four months of work with a special concert for Sergeant Albright, a gesture that was especially meaningful for the father of three. "The concert was the highlight of my time in the village," he said. "I absolutely loved seeing the children in their traditional clothing and listening to the great songs and watching the dances." Tynchtykbek Ybykeyev, the village mayor, acknowledged that Sergeant Albright "contributed a lot to the kindergarten," and indicated the simple importance of that effort. "Children are our future and taking care of them is taking care of Kyrgyzstan's future," he said. The manager of the school, Kushbaeva Manzura Abdukievna, was grateful not only for the upgrades to the school, but also for the school supplies the volunteers have brought for teachers and time spent with the children. "Our children are always happy when they have American guests and they and their parents are very grateful for the teaching aides given to the school," she said. Sergeant Albright is appreciative of the gratitude, but shakes it off. "Really we should be thanking them for allowing us to spend time with them. I'm thankful they shared their children with us -- we enjoyed being there," said Sergeant Albright. "The biggest thing I'm going to be able to take home to my family is children all over the world are the same -- they all need love and attention. If you give them that, you can make a difference in their life."