Diving into dorm life: Robins dorm leaders crucial to guiding young airmen

ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE — For many young airmen, their first assignment takes them out of the nest and into unfamiliar territory. Robins Air Force Base is no exception, but dedicated dorm leaders are there to assist every step of the way.

As described by TSgt. Danny Kinstler, dorm leaders are a liaison between civil engineering and over 300 airmen living in the base’s dormitory. Their primary mission is to ensure airmen are cared for.

“We are not their supervisor. We’re more like a big brother, off to the side. We’re facility managers. That’s a big part of our job. At the end of the day, we make sure the airmen have a safe, comfortable place to live. That is the rule,” Kinstler said.

Over a 19 year career, Kinstler has served for two years as a dorm leader. He said as facility managers, much of their work is in work orders. If something is inoperable, like plumbing, submitting a work order ensures its timely repair.

Dorm leaders also conduct random inspections. While the first sergeant is looking for cleanliness and order, dorm leaders are ensuring everything is in working order.

“When I go in, I want to make sure that the AC and heating works. Is the water working? Are there leaks? Are there issues? Some airmen, they will have lights out in their room and they just live like that and they don’t think to come back and ask for help. We can identify the problems and get them fixed, and then guide them on that,” Kinstler said.

Kinstler’s day begins early, leading four airmen a week in campus upkeep, like raking leaves, picking up trash, moving furniture and cleaning. Their days also start with a chance to eat breakfast. Weekly, he also handles onboarding and outgoing airmen.

“it’s not the most glamorous work, but it’s what keeps things clean and moving along,” Kinstler said.

With a large majority of dorm occupants at college age, many are leaving home for the first time and fresh out of highly controlled basic training. The newfound independence is exciting, but also leaves more responsibility for domestic tasks some may have never done, like laundry or changing lightbulbs.

Kinstler said dorm leaders understand the transition phase and are there to mentor and support. Mentoring is a passion for him and he enjoys being a guiding light.

“It’s really easy to get on to people for not knowing stuff that we think they should know, but we also forget that there was a time where we were those people,” Kinstler said. “Being able to have the grace to understand that and work with them, guide and provide mentorship to them, those are skills that are absolutely necessary to be successful in this job and make a difference.”

Senior Airman Alyssa Szuper said her onboarding was smooth and she was provided with essential household items and information. She admitted she didn’t know what to expect at first, but has since become a bay chief, similar to a resident assistant in college dorms.

“My first impression? I was a bit shocked. I think it’s very convenient living in the dorms regardless, so I haven’t had too many issues,” Szuper said.

Senior Airman Hayden Bailey had a similar experience. Airmen attend a briefing of essential information, where dorm leaders explain expectations and share resources.

“My experience, at least, has been nothing but pleasant. They have always been on the right side of helping us and looking out for us airmen and also having future plans for the airmen going forward,” Bailey said.

Szuper said if she had any concerns, leadership was responsive and felt they truly cared for dorm residents and valued their input. Bailey said airmen have a direct line for communication, and leaders are also communicative about important updates.

“I had a personal issue that I can relate to as an airman rather than a bay chief, in which MSgt. [Christy] Allen was on it almost immediately. We didn’t know the extent of the issue when I first brought it to her, but, she has her own protocol that she follows, and she shares it with her team,” Szuper said. “They really do care; they do the most.”

To ensure safety and cleanliness in the dorms, leadership provides incentives, like a “dorm of the quarter” award, with gift cards as rewards. Another method is helping airmen shift their mindset.

“We tell them, ‘Hey, you may be told you live here, but this is your apartment, this is your community, this is your home.’ We try to get them to think of it less as a dormitory, and more of a stepping stone to their first apartment,” Kinstler said.

A new way airmen are fostering a sense of community is through initiating a dorm council. Airmen serve as leaders on the council, suggest community activities, and raise campus-level concerns. Technology is also a factor in communication, with a dorm-wide Discord server.

“They can speak directly to leadership and they’re voted on by their peers. It’s a way to empower them to take charge of their own community,” Kinstler said.

Kinstler advises new airmen to enjoy the dorm life by networking with peers and to focus on training before moving up in the ranks and shouldering responsibility for others, while Szuper and Bailey advise residents to communicate their concerns to dorm leaders and bay chiefs and use the vast amount of resources available. 

“[Kinsler said,] ‘We are a community. We are airmen that look after each other,’” Bailey said. “With proper communication, effort, and trying to keep this community a safe, clean and efficient place, it can not only be a place where we have our uniforms and everything we need for the work that we do here at Robins Base every single day, but also a home that we can rely on and have friends.”