Volunteers sharpen skills at annual workshop Published Oct. 27, 2011 By By 1st Lt. Jason Yuhasz 152nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs SPARKS -- Displaying their volunteer spirit, dozens of Soldiers and Airmen attended classes, seminars and training sessions here Oct. 21-23 during the third annual Nevada National Guard's Volunteer Workshop - strictly on their own time. The training featured both initial sessions for new volunteers and advanced seminars for veteran volunteers. Classes included training for Air National Guard Key Volunteers and Family Readiness Group training for Army National Guard volunteers. Courses offered at this year's workshop included: suicide awareness, establishing a care team, legal issues and a My Life in a Box class. My Life in a Box focuses on organizing and collecting and important documents, end-of-life decisions, and establishing a shelter-in-place supply reserve in the home. "The workshop provided a great opportunity to receive guidance and information and it helped me expand my support network," said Jessica Bordallo, the chairwoman of the 1/189th Aviation battalion's family readiness group. Volunteers didn't have a monopoly on the training as sessions for first sergeants and commanders were offered as well. The workshop also included separate branch-specific sessions for Soldiers and Airmen. John Strahan, the Nevada Guard's state family programs director, was the coordinator of the event and deemed the workshop a big success, largely due to the support of senior leadership. "These courses will make our volunteers even more effective in their roles as they serve families and members of the Nevada Guard," Strahan said.