Airman cares for Clovis community Published Feb. 8, 2018 By Airman 1st Class Vernon R. Walter III 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- When she’s not teaching Air Commandos, Senior Airman Amanda Kopecky, 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron emergency manager, spends her free time developing professionally and helping the community. “It’s nice to go out in the community and help,” Kopecky said when asked about why she volunteers. “It’s also great to really work on bettering myself.” Kopecky is the president of a private organization within the 27th SOCES that focuses on professional development and volunteer opportunities for young Airmen. While she sets up these events for Airmen to improve themselves, she also participates in the development courses, such as studying for promotion tests or bullet writing. The classes are usually held during the work week and are free. “The top four airmen of our squadron teach and show us how to get better,” Kopecky said. “It’s all about self-improvement. Some people do it to prepare for putting on staff sergeant, and some people just do it for help with career development courses.” While the study group offers Airmen the chance to volunteer, Kopecky found her own ways to help volunteer within the community, like at the local animal shelter. The High Plains Humane Society is an organization consisting of board members and volunteers who go to local shelters and post images to inform Clovis on what animals are available for adoption. For the past month, Kopecky has gone to the local shelters, taken photos and created social media posts for the photos after work. “I would go in and just visit the dogs at the kennels in my free time after work,” Kopecky said. “I just wanted to make it a bit easier on them. When I was asking about how to help out at the kennel, I was told about the High Plains Humane Society.” While Kopecky reserves her time after work for the local humane society, she spends every other Saturday at a local farm grooming and feeding horses and cleaning their stables. This is all done for Hebron, a private volunteer opportunity meant to be a place for troubled youths to be able to take a break and focus on caring for the horses. “The kids come out to take a break and put them in a better situation,” Kopecky said. “It helps get out any bad tendencies.” At work, after work, and even on weekends, Kopecky strives to better herself and the community around her. “It’s all about getting out there and doing something,” Kopecky said.