174th Attack Wing Airmen donate life Published March 7, 2016 By Senior Airman Autumn Velez 174th Attack Wing HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- As members of the United States Air Force, volunteering is something Airmen do to fulfill the complete Airman concept. The 174th Attack Wing (ATKW) has taken volunteering to another level by hosting blood drives during select unit training assembly (UTA) weekends. "Donating blood is an honored tradition on many installations," Master Sgt. Kimberly said. By hosting these blood drives on Hancock Field, it provides the Airmen of the 174th ATKW the opportunity to volunteer right at their fingertips. "Donating blood is an easy way to give back to the community without taking away from the mission," Kimberly said. "The donation process only takes about 20 minutes of their time." While these blood drives do not happen during each UTA, Kimberly's goal is to try and hold these events at least three times a year. "Blood drives are something I wanted to bring back to the base," Kimberly said. "Years ago blood drives were frequent but over the years, they have tapered off." Last year, 150 Airmen volunteered to donate blood and so far this year, 34 have participated. In all, these blood drives can be a rewarding experience for the Airmen of the 174th ATKW. "When someone donates blood, they can save up to three lives and one of those lives may be someone they know," Kimberly said. The next blood drive will be held during the April UTA.