Base donates used computers to community

  • Published
  • By Dean Armstrong
  • Kirtland C4 Team
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, NEW MEXICO --  Ever wonder what happens to old government desktop computers, laptops and printers?

Did you think they were just thrown into the garbage or transferred far, far away to the vast stockpile of old government junk?

Sometimes that happens, but not if Kirtland's leadership has their way. With the approval of the Air Force Materiel Command, the base command and the Kirtland C4 Team, the base continues to push the envelope in its efforts to assist the local community.

The Department of Defense allows unused and outdated equipment to be transferred to other government agencies and educational institutions whose budgets may only allow them to purchase some computer equipment.

"Almost all our money goes to firefighting equipment," Commander Timothy Lett, Bernalillo County Fire Department, stated. "Items such as laptops for field use are needed but considered too extravagant to purchase."

Like the fire department, educational institutions also request equipment, whether it is due to budget dollars, vandals destroying or stealing equipment, or just not enough equipment to go around. Many other educational and charitable organizations receive Air Force help in order to get computer systems into the hands of underprivileged children. Over the past three years, Kirtland has donated more than 1,000 pieces of equipment to agencies in need.

"We have manpower and equipment limitations," stated Randy Dale, Kirtland C4 Team. "So we may be a little slow getting help to everyone, but we get it there eventually."

The Automated Data Processing Equipment Section, with the help of unit account custodians, gather up the old equipment as the new equipment comes in. They sort the good from the bad, repair and replace parts as needed, clean the equipment up and transfer them out to those organizations in need.

Even something as simple as an extra mouse or keyboard can be helpful, so don't throw them out. Computers can't work without them and some organizations don't even have money for the simplest items. Always remember: what may look like junk to us is someone else's treasure.

The Air Force bases its donations on one thing, the need to help the community.
Truly the Air Force is above and beyond!