HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Airmen from Hill Air Force Base collaborated with officials from Weber State University to host the first Affinity Summit held Dec. 8 at the WSU Davis Campus located in nearby Layton.
This event aimed to bring Airmen, ages 18 to 26, together with students from Weber State University to foster connection between military and local university students.
“We really want to get our Airmen involved in the community,” said Master Sgt. Ruben Ramirez, 75th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle management flight section chief and key event organizer.
The summit was similar to a job fair, where representatives of different clubs were able to meet and talk with prospective members to provide a platform for questions and open discussion.
“It’s a great opportunity for Airmen to get out of the dorms to meet new people and learn about opportunities in the local area they might not otherwise have known about,” said Airman 1st Class Adelina Hook, 75th Operations Support Squadron air traffic control apprentice. “There’s a lot of things that I didn’t know were around this area, like the Davis County hiking club.”
The Affinity Summit highlighted the potential for ongoing collaboration between Hill AFB and Weber State. Event planners want it to become an annual tradition, representing a significant step toward connection between two communities.
“We hope this program will increase camaraderie between different people from different backgrounds that have common interests,” said Ramirez.
The Affinity Summit is just one part of a larger base initiative called Project One, created to build deeper connections with on- and off-base communities. Col. Jeffery Holland, 75th Air Base Wing commander, said “When we join with people in pursuit of shared passions, we forge supportive and enduring relationships as we do the things we love.”
For more information on Project One, visit https://www.hill.af.mil/Project-One/.