LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --
The Air Force Club Card, like most club cards, offers discounts for members, but it also does a lot more.
From saving to giving money, the Air Force Club Card can help with many benefits to include scholarships, refunds, discounts, and the ability to be part of something bigger.
"The key to the Air Force Club Card is that it gives back to its members," said Bruce Hiott, Laughlin club operations general manager. "Being a part of Air Force Clubs means an opportunity to participate in the Air Force Clubs Scholarship Program and receive money for school."
On top of the scholarship fund the club also helps its uniformed members during temporary duty assignments.
"When a member is TDY longer than 30 days there are no interest charges to the card," said Hiott. "Air Force Club members have common privileges at all Air Force clubs worldwide as well as Army, Navy and Marine clubs. That comes in handy on joint bases and temporary assignments."
The Air Force clubs take it a step further by offering a program that protects members from charges while they are deployed.
"With the Blue Star Program, members who deploy receive a 100 percent refund on any interest and fees incurred during their military deployment," said Hiott. "We want to make sure our members are worry free and well taken care of."
Whether members are TDY or not, or apply for the scholarship; at Laughlin, members are a part of an experience and tradition
"Club membership is not about joining a club to get cheap food and drinks," said Col. Brian Hastings, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, "it is about taking care of our Airmen. It is about taking care of ourselves, and leveraging a program to build a sense of family and community at Laughlin AFB. Joining the club pays into an Airmen support system that supports all facets of our mission through a healthy morale, welfare and recreation fund. While other clubs are closing, Laughlin is working hard to grow. We need our club because it supports our mission. I can't imagine Laughlin AFB without our club."
Club members help take care of base and its Airmen while simultaneously supporting and building traditions.
"Being a member, you are part of a family, part of a tradition," said Hiott. "That's the benefit."
For more information, please visit http://www.myairforcelife.com/clubs/Membership.aspx.