JBLM Community Covenant Signed

Communities neighboring Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) recently signed the Military Community Covenant, a formal commitment of support by state and local communities to Active, Guard and Reserve service members and their families.

The ceremony was conducted the first meeting of the Elected Officials Council of the South Sound Military & Communities Partnership at the McGavick Conference Center on the campus of Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood. The meeting culminated with a signing ceremony of the Military Community Covenant.

The event opened at 1pm with an Army band performing the National Anthem and introductory remarks from the Lakewood host community's Mayor Doug Richardson, Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy, and Thurston County Commissioner Karen Valenzuela.

Army and Air Force senior commanders, including Lt. General Curtis “Mike” Scaparrotti, I Corps Commanding General, and Col. Richard G. Moore, Vice Commander of 62nd Airlift Wing, attended for the signing of the Military Community Covenant. The Covenant is designed to foster and sustain effective state and community partnerships with the services to improve the quality of life for service members and their families, both at their current duty stations and as they transfer to other states.

The South Sound Military & Communities Partnership, an outgrowth of the recently completed JBLM Growth Coordination Plan, provides a framework for collaboration with local governments, military installations, State and Federal agencies to better coordinate efforts.

In addition to the Elected Officials Council, a Steering Committee composed of staff leadership in local municipalities and agencies and private sector representation by the United Way of Pierce County and the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber will work in areas such as military relations, transportation and land use planning, environment protection, emergency preparedness, data coordination, grant applications, health care coordination, population forecasting, workforce, education, housing and community development, economic development, and other issues that may arise.