AFA Engages with Thousands of BMT Trainees and Their Families via Sandboxx

The Air & Space Forces Association’s Advocates to Inspire Military Service (AFA AIMS) program is leveraging a powerful and highly effective tool to connect with new Airmen and Guardians—and the friends and families who support them.

Through a no-cost partnership with Sandboxx, AFA is able to directly contact trainees during Basic Military Training (BMT), as well as the friends and family they designate as supporters. Over the final 11 months of 2025, AIMS used Sandboxx to generate more than 947,000 letters and messages offering congratulations, encouragement, and an invitation to join AFA. In December, the program reached a major milestone, surpassing 1,000 new AFA members as a direct result of this outreach.

The AIMS team is led by Co-Chairs John Campbell and Vance Clarke, with support from dedicated AFA Steering and Working Groups and AFA staff. Now in its third year, AIMS continues to deliver measurable value to AFA, expanding a growing portfolio of programs designed to educate and inform citizens about the importance of military service.

“Being able to reach BMT trainees and their support network during this significant period in their lives is an incredibly powerful capability,” said Campbell. “This is a receptive group: parents, teachers, coaches, friends and neighbors who have someone close to them entering the service. Those who took the initiative to join AFA have signaled that they want to know more about the Air and Space Forces. They understand why service matters, how it shapes lives, and the impact it has on our nation. We need to engage them at the National and Chapter levels to bring them on board as active and productive members of AFA. Supporting them is good for the country and for AFA.”

Sandboxx is a secure digital platform that connects families and friends with recruits during Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio–Lackland, Texas. Through letters, updates, and timely information, Sandboxx helps supporters stay engaged throughout a recruit’s training journey.

The idea for the partnership originated in February 2024, when National Secretary Paul Hendricks and Central Region National Director Janelle Stafford met Chris McCool, Air and Space Forces Sandboxx Manager, at AFA’s Warfare Symposium. Impressed by Sandboxx’s mission and impact, they shared the opportunity with the AIMS team. That collaboration led to Sandboxx becoming an official AFA Corporate Partner in September 2025.

Throughout 2025, AFA and Sandboxx developed a working relationship that culminated in a formal messaging campaign launched in late January 2025. The campaign congratulated new Airmen and Guardians while also reaching out to their supporters—thanking them for their encouragement and inviting them to engage with AFA, AIMS, and other AFA missions.

Campaign results included:

• Over 38,000 letters sent on behalf of the AFA Board Chair and CEO
• More than 884,000 emails delivered to supporters through the Sandboxx network
• All messaging provided at no cost to AFA

In addition to the Sandboxx partnership, AIMS expanded its reach through the AIMS Ambassador Program at BMT graduations. Led by the AFA Alamo Chapter in San Antonio, chapter members attend weekly graduations at Lackland AFB, connecting with more than 400 supporters each week. Volunteers distribute informational cards explaining how families and friends can support new recruits—and the Air and Space Forces—through AFA. To date, several thousand cards have been distributed, and the program continues to grow.

Together, the Sandboxx partnership and the BMT AIMS Ambassador efforts introduce parents, family members, teachers, coaches, and other influencers to the importance of supporting our military and inspiring future service.

---

How Can You Help?

Tell Your Story: Share your experiences and perspectives on military service and why it matters. Personal stories resonate and help young people see service as a meaningful and viable path. Resources are available on the AFA AIMS page under the AIMS Toolbox.

Join the AIMS Network: Opt in to the AIMS locator map to connect recruiters and supporters with AFA members willing to help inspire military service. Visit the AIMS page, select Join the Network, and follow the prompts.

Support BMT Graduation Outreach: Looking for a reason to visit San Antonio? Join the Alamo Chapter’s AIMS Ambassador BMT graduation team and engage families and supporters of new recruits. Volunteer opportunities and contact information are available on the Alamo AIMS page.

Join the AIMS Team: AIMS is seeking support for the Family Forum, CrossTalk, and Toolbox initiatives. Your skills and talents can make a difference. Reach out to:

• AIMS.Communications@afa.org
• AIMS.Chair@afa.org
• AIMS.Co-Chair@afa.org

The AIMS team is building stronger relationships with local recruiters, partnering with like-minded organizations, and developing tools to help individuals and chapters inspire service nationwide. We need your help—no contribution is too small. Together, we can continue to inspire military service and strengthen the future of our Air Force and Space Force.