Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment Listening Session

The South Sound Military & Communities Partnership (SSMCP) invites you to register and attend the Army Community Listening Session:  register here!

Army Community Listening Session

Wednesday, January 21, 2015 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (PST), McGavick Conference Center, Clover Park Tech College, Lakewood, WA

You should make your voice heard at the Army's listening session related to a potential reduction of up to 11,000 active duty and civilian contractors at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) under the Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment!

Are you military-connected?  A military spouse?  Veteran?  Civilian contractor?  A private business that enjoys military customers?  You need to speak up!

Comments will be taken on any issue of concern, including strategic considerations; costs and efficiencies; training facilities; power projection; readiness impacts; mission command; well-being; mission expansion; and community input.

This is the South Sound's and Washington State's last best opportunity to demonstrate the importance of JBLM operations to not only our local communities and economy, but also how WA supports its military presence and the real need to keep JBLM fully ready to serve as a power projection base on the West Coast.

If the full reduction at JBLM were put in effect, Pierce County has estimated it would result in a total income loss of $1.15 billion - $1.3 billion in Pierce and Thurston Counties.  Washington's Office of Financial Management (OFM) has estimated a loss of $20.47 million in retail sales tax in 2016 alone.  According to OFM, by2020, the loss would increase to $2.44 billion in personal income and $87.26 million in retail sales tax in the state.

Official NORAD Santa Tracker

OFFICIAL NORAD SANTA TRACKER

AUSA Lewis Chapter's Trio of Awards

The Chamber, a member since 1991, adds its congratu- lations to the Capt. Meriwether Lewis Chapter, AUSA representing the Joint Base Lewis-McChord communities, for the Association of the U.S. Army's 2014 recognition of the Chapter and two of its officers.

The Capt. Lewis Chapter was recognized for the Chapter of the Year.

AUSA's Major General Anthony J. Drexel Medal was awarded to Carlene Joseph, Capt. Lewis Chapter President, for her outstanding contributions to AUSA.

The Joseph P. Cribbins Medal was awarded to Alecia R. Grady for her exemplary service to the AUSA and her significant contributions to its soldiers and their families.  Grady has served as the Capt. Lewis Chapter secretary since she relocated to JBLM in 2012. 

McChord Takes Half of C-17 Manpower Reductions

The Air Force announced the inactivation of two C-17 squadrons– one at Joint Base Charleston, S.C and one at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. These inactivation’s were part of the FY15 President’s Budget submission released in March 2014 and will occur over the course of the next two years.

The Air Force plans to make adjustments over the next few years to the active duty, Reserve, and Guard components to ensure successful transitions to a leaner force that remains ready for future operations. The FY15 President’s Budget converts 16 AMC C-17s (eight from each base) from primary mission aircraft inventory to backup aircraft inventory. As a result, AMC will inactivate the 17th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Charleston, S.C., in FY15; and the 10th Airlift Squadron at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., in FY16. These inactivations are not new actions, but additional detail on the previously announced budget submission released in March.

“The 10th Airlift Squadron Pathfinders have a storied legacy of outstanding performance,” said Col. David Kumashiro, 62nd Airlift Wing commander. “Their legacy…their DNA…will not be lost. It will forever be part of our Air Force.”

“The men and women of the 62nd Airlift Wing and our United States Air Force are the best trained Airmen in the world. Make no doubt about it, your Airmen here at Joint Base Lewis-McChord remains ready, committed, and able to meet all of our worldwide taskings.”

“In this fiscally constrained environment, we have to balance readiness, capability and capacity,” said Major Gen. Michael S. Stough, AMC’s Director of Strategic Plans, Requirements and Programs. “To best preserve this capability, the intent is to fund these aircraft back into primary mission aircraft inventory in future years, and transfer them to the Reserve Component – and we’re working with our Air National Guard partners to do that, perhaps even as early as FY16. We rely on our Total Force partners every day to meet our global mobility requirements; we couldn’t do the mission without them. Our goal is to continue to leverage the unique strengths of the active and Reserve components to meet current and future requirements with available resources.”

Backup aircraft inventory are assigned with no manpower or flying hours. However, they will continue to receive funding needed to support weapon system sustainment. Converting 16 aircraft to BAI removes funding for the personnel and flying hours associated with those aircraft, for a savings of approximately $110M per year.

AMC's goal, reports the Air Force Magazine, is to return these C-17s to PAI status at some point and transfer them to the reserve components, said Maj. Gen. Michael Stough, AMC's director of strategic plans, requirements, and programs. "We're working with our Air National Guard partners to do that, perhaps even as early as Fiscal 2016," he said.

Turkey Shoots $36K to Charities

America’s Credit Union (ACU), held its 14th annual Turkey Shoot, a golf tournament to support three local charities on JBLM, at Eagles Pride Golf Course.
62^nd Airlift Wing Command Chief, Chief Master Sargent Drake, Ken Leonard ACU CEO/President, Mary Cron Armed Forces Community Service, David Soma PhD. Madigan Foundation, Lisa Bennett Santa’s Castle President, LT Col. Deborah Dusek 627^th Airbase group Deputy Commander, 627^th Air Base Group Superintendent, chief Master Sergeant Kristen Orcutt, Amy Tiemeyer ACU’s Military Relations Liaison

Because of the generous donations from the sponsors and the success of the Turkey Shoot golf tournament they were able to raise a record $36,000 to donate to all three charities.  Many local businesses and over 170 golfers participated to help raise money for Santa’s Castle, the Food Basket Program and the Madigan Foundation.

The history of the tournament has evolved throughout the years. It was originally created to help the founder of Santa’s Castle get her program off the ground. Then it was expanded to help make sure JBLM military families have enough food for the holidays by supporting the Food Basket Program. The final piece was to help pay for military families’ medical costs, not covered through insurance, by donating to the Madigan Foundation.

Kenneth S. Leonard, President/CEO of ACU, said, “it’s a passion to grow this event each year in support of our military and all they do on a daily basis.”  Ken and all the sponsors are honored to contribute to the morale and welfare of our military and their families.

Army Opens Listening Session for Local Say

Army opens Listening Session for local citizens to have their say about the impacts of an additional potential 11,000 civilian and soldier job cuts at JBLM.

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Background Info:  http://www.army.mil/article/138306/Army_completes_environmental_study_for_possible_force_reductions/

Shared sacrifice

Shared sacrifice.

Two Opportunities Focused on Spouses

Here's two complementary hiring events - a free networking reception and a military spouse hiring fair coming up next month.

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