JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. –
After spending more than 20 years in a military uniform, many individuals choose to retire.
However, even after their time in service, some retirees at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, continue to serve their military community.
Earvin Rosier
Earvin Rosier is a retired major who volunteers at Regimental Memorial Chapel. Rosier served in the U.S. Army for 20 years as an infantry officer before retiring in 1992.
Now a volunteer, Rosier leads the men’s ministry and is a Protestant worship leader. He uses his past experiences in the Army to relate to and help other active duty and retiree families.
“In the military, there is nothing more that you value than knowing you can depend on the guys on your left and right and they can depend on you,” he said. “That feeling is what motivates me to volunteer here at Fort Eustis.”
Rosier comes from a large military family; both grandfathers served in World War I, his father and all but one uncle served in World War II and every brother but the youngest served as well.
“Yeah, military is in my veins,” he said. “And I’m proud of that, I am very proud of that – very proud.”
Gary Roby
Gary Roby is a retired chief master sergeant who volunteers at the McDonald Army Health Center pharmacy. Roby served in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years and another 20 years as a civilian in accounting and finance.
Now a volunteer, Roby helps the technicians pre-pack medication and check in customers. He also uses his prior knowledge in accounting and finance to create spreadsheets for pharmacy supply.
“I like doing it and I like the people I work with,” he said. “It gives me something very productive to do with part of my week and it lets me still contribute to the overall military community.”
With 46 years of service to the Air Force, Roby continues to serve the military and recommends everyone, especially retirees, to volunteer their time.
“Find a place that you feel comfortable and put in the time,” he said. “It’s well worth it and it’s a whole lot better than sitting around doing nothing.”
Tim Payne
Time Payne is a retired chief warrant officer 3 who volunteers at Regimental Memorial Chapel. Payne served in the U.S. Army for more than 20 years in the maintenance field and later in the software development field before retiring in 1993.
Payne started volunteering when his wife pulled him into it and later got the whole family into it. Payne now volunteers as the parish council president and serves as a Eucharistic minister.
“I’m extremely pleased, happy and proud of my family because they are doing this with me,” he said.
Payne, his wife and children volunteer to help Fort Eustis military families and give them a “church family” while their loved ones are deployed.
“I’ve always said ‘Once a Soldier, always a Soldier,’” he said. “So it’s important to give back to our soldiers.”