State of the Military highlights relationship of SJAFB, community
By Steve Herring
Published in News on November 18, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Military Affairs Committee Chairman of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Julie Daniels speaks during the annual State of the Military program at Lane Tree Golf Club.
The Military Affairs Committee of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to supporting the efforts of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base which ultimately supports the community, MAC Chairman Julie Daniels said.
"Our mission is to maintain and improve the community's relationship with Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, to learn about the operations and needs of the base and to advocate for policies, procedures, infrastructure and an environment which will promote the importance of Seymour Johnson to the United States Department of Defense and to endeavor to ensure the long-term viability of Seymour Johnson in the face of overall deductions within the Department of Defense," she said.
The MAC has for years led the coordination and collaboration with local elected officials to ensure the community is a "superior host" to the base, Mrs. Daniels said last week during the MAC's annual State of the Military program at Lane Tree Golf Club.
Both Goldsboro and the county recognize that need and have been "tremendous" partners with resources and financial backing, Mrs. Daniels said.
However, in today's environment is important to have voices on the state and federal levels as well, she said.
A few years back the community was presented with challenges that resulted in the need for a quick reaction to the threat of a wind energy farm whose giant windmills would have endangered the base's use of the Dare County bombing range, she said.
Overall the community was not prepared with the resources to address such an issue, she said.
"We learned our lesson, and the MAC leadership at the time had the vision and the wherewithal to make sure we were prepared for the future," Mrs. Daniels said. "The Friends of Seymour Johnson was formed, and as always you, our community, stepped up and tremendously provided your support."
Over the past two years more than $220,000 has been raised through private donations, Mrs. Daniels said. That money has allowed local delegates to promote the base's needs on the national level, she said.
"We are very certain that these efforts have paid off by the recent exciting news of Seymour being named as the preferred location for the KC-46s (tanker aircraft)," she said. "Also very important for Seymour is the inclusion of a much-needed new tower in the 2016 budget."
The ongoing strategy is to be proactive on any issues that might impact the base -- the key to the base's long-term viability, Mrs. Daniels said.
Hired consultants help ensure that local officials will be kept abreast of any issues, local, state or national that might negatively impact the base, she said.
"Things of concern include DOD budget cuts, federal and state funded needs to provide zoning on encroachment issues, assurances that searches for new energy sources are mindful of the needs of the military and will not hinder the mission of an installation," she said.
The MAC continues to be involved in ways to support the base and its personnel and to foster close working relationships with key command leadership in the 9th Air Force, she said.
"Also, we continue to work political issues that the Air Force cannot get involved with such as zoning, education and infrastructure," she said.
The MAC also assisted in many ways in the Wings Over Wayne Air Show that brought close to 200,000 people into the community this past spring, she said.
This year, the Chamber launched the Seymour Savings military savings program. Today it has 97 businesses offering discounts to military families.
The program is accessible through the MyChamber app.
"As many of you are aware (4th Fighter Wing Commander) Col. (Mark) Slocum has been a tremendous support for the enlisted personnel on base," Mrs. Daniels said. "His Make It Better campaign has engaged personnel across the base and has provided tremendous enthusiasm.
"The MAC has assisted in some efforts when called upon. But I would like to challenge us all to think about how we can provide more help. Col. Slocum has set the groundwork, but we as a community can help to keep this campaign alive long into the future. We want and need these dedicated men and women to be happy in our community. There are many ways to help so let's all get onboard."
The base is a tremendous economic asset, she said. But it is much more than that because of those who serve on the base, Mrs. Daniels said.