Taking care of your home

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Soo C. Kim
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Nothing ruins a good day like stepping on a piece of chewing gum.

Acts of littering is unsightly, can cause injury, reflects negatively to visitors and of course, ruin someone's day.

This is why it's important for the Yokota residents to take care of their common areas, not just for themselves, but for others as well.

Staff Sgt. Holli Edgett, 374th Civil Engineering Squadron Airman Dormitory leader, said there are three main reasons why a clean common area is important.

"[The way a common area is maintained] affects quality of life, ensures the safety of residents, and it instills pride of ownership," Edgett said. "If you don't have pride in something, you're not going to take care of it."

So who is responsible for cleaning the common areas? According to Edgett, it is everyone's responsibility.

"Ideally, residents should take care of their dormitory and common areas. That's where the pride of ownership plays in," Edgett said. "Something as simple as picking up and throwing away loose trash could go a long way in maintaining common areas."

A good example is taking full advantage of the newly established designated tobacco areas, Edgett said. Since the full implementation of the change to Air Force Instruction 40-102, "Tobacco Use in the Air Force," there has been a decrease of cigarette butt-related damage around several dorms. When used properly, the DTAs contribute to improving cleanliness of common areas.

"Previously, marks were left on exterior walls or stairwells where people put out their cigarettes," Edgett said. "While this damage has decreased in frequency, cigarette butts tossed to the ground and unauthorized use in areas like stairwells and inside dormitories has increased."

Liza Lim-Ramos, 374th CES Housing Management chief shares a similar view.

"Be a good neighbor," Lim-Ramos said. "The base housing units and common areas are the residents' responsibility to manage."

According to Lim-Ramos, the residents have been picking up after themselves quite well.

"Residents often use the common areas such as the park for parties. After using these facilities they have been picking up trash," Lim-Ramos said. "However, we would like to ask the residents to pick up after their pets, too."

Edgett stated, with the budget constraints currently placed on the Air Force, it is especially important now to care for base property.

"With the sequestration, funds for repairs are minimal right now," Edgett added. "If the residents do not take care of their common areas, it can affect the safety and quality of life for the community as a whole."

Master Sgt. Mark Boatright, 374th CES Superintendent of the Installation Management Flight stated, "This is your home. You paid for it with your own tax dollars. You own it. Let's take care of it."

"Poorly maintained common areas show a lack of professionalism and presents a negative image, not just the individuals living in the area, but to the entire organization," Edgett said. "We live by our core values: integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do. Everyone should keep that in their mind and apply it to their living and common areas."