Fun is in the cards: Enlisted Appreciation Night offers $20K in prizes Published Nov. 29, 2006 By Frank McIntyre Public Affairs Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- Master Sgt. Timothy Phillips, 71st Medical Group, had to wait 19 years for the special night last year. For Airman 1st Class Catherine Silvela, 71st Comptroller Squadron, the wait was less than a year. For Sergeant Phillips, Airman Silvela and the 368 other enlisted members of Team Vance, the wait this year is over, Enlisted Appreciation Night returns to the Vance Club 5:30 p.m. Saturday. "I'd been at Vance Air Force Base for just a couple of months when I went to the Enlisted Appreciation Night last year, and it was awesome," said Sergeant Phillips, NCO in charge of dental services. "Never before in my 19 years of service had I witnessed such a tremendous display of support for the enlisted force. My hat's off to those responsible for the program." The event is sponsored by the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce. Ron Diener, Vance Fire Department chief and Richard Johndrow, base environmental entomologist, serve as co-chairs of the event. "This is our way of showing our appreciation each year for the sacrifices our enlisted military and their families make," Chief Diener said. "We (the volunteers) love doing this: it's a lot of fun." Airman Silvela enjoyed the fun at last year's event. "I loved it, there were a lot of great prizes given away. It was obvious that the volunteers spent a lot of effort to show how much the enlisted forces are appreciated," she said. Blackjack and bingo play begin at 7 p.m. Airmen and their guests will share one player's tag for blackjack and can switch places. The person not playing blackjack can play bingo, but bingo and blackjack winnings can't be combined. During the game play, breaks will be taken to award cash door prizes. The value of the prizes for Saturday's event totals more than $20,000, which equates to more than $50 for each enlisted person assigned to Vance AFB. In addition to being eligible for prizes, attendees also will be treated to pizza, hot wings and drinks. All of the evening's goodies are paid for by the Chamber, the local Air Force Association chapter and donations from base and other local businesses and organizations. This year's event boasts the largest prize package since the inception of Enlisted Appreciation Night as Monte Carlo night in the 1960s. "Since Chief Diener and I took over the program 12 or 13 years ago, we have tried to achieve a bigger and better program each year. We have more than doubled the amount of prizes in the last four years. This year will be the best ever," Mr. Johndrow said. "Our objective is to give a little back to our enlisted forces. Since Vance is an undergraduate pilot training base, most things are geared to officers, this is a night for those who are the acknowledged 'backbone' of the military," he said.