'Flying Scarfs'

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Makenzie Lang
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Four Airmen from the 355 Fighter Squadron were recognized for their outstanding volunteer service April 18.

While conducting combat operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, U.S. Air Force Captains Ryan Bodenheimer, Joshua Carroll, Jonathan Hudgins and Joseph Stenger distinguished themselves through volunteerism by founding the non-profit organization "Flying Scarfs," which supports impoverished Afghan women and children.

"Our idea came from a book called Social Business by the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Laureate Muhammad Yunus," said Carroll, 335th Fighter Squadron intelligence officer. "We basically took that idea and thought we could contribute it to Afghanistan."

By flying F-15E Strike Eagle missions throughout Afghanistan the captains were providing security to the people there. They also wanted to help Afghans long-term. By providing an alternate method of aiding the counter insurgency efforts of coalition forces in Afghanistan they concentrated on a business model revolving around sustainable economic growth.

"We went to the bazaar on Bagram Air Base and the idea kind of hit us there," said Hudgins, 335th Fighter Squadron F-15E Strike Eagle pilot. "One of the shop owner's mother had already established a non-profit organization to help war-widowed Afghan women. We expanded on that so they could sell their goods on a global market."

As co-founders, Bodenheimer, Carroll, Hudgins and Stenger developed a lasting source of revenue for Afghan communities by working over 700 hours of personal time during a busy deployment. Combining local purchase with international trade, they aided economic development, facilitated comprehensive stability networks and effected change in Afghanistan. Since inception, their organization has generated over $8,000 dollars, which more than quadrupled the income for multiple Afghan villages.

"Flying Scarfs" has been formally recognized by the International Security Assistance Force commander and Senate Armed Services Committee since its establishment in November 2011.

For more information on Flying Scarfs please visit their website www.flyingscarfs.com