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Being distributed to the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's membership and community contacts is the new 2010 Military Impacts, containing articles on military civic volunteerism, economic impacts and a roster of the region's military leadership.

All you Chamber members will be receiving a printed copy as an insert in today's Calendar mailing.  For all others, you may download your copy here. 

The Chamber will distribute copies of the 2010 Military Impacts in the community at special, mililtary related-events, starting with the Citizen-Soldier of the Year event hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Tacoma.

The Suburban Times yesterday posted background and a stylebook for the upcoming actualization of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

From its initial days when the citizens of Pierce County taxed themselves to pay - and then donate - lands that became initially Camp Lewis, through a similar effort for Tacoma Airport becoming McChord Field then McChord AFB, these installations have been an integral part of our community.

Whether it's signs on the freeway or the nomenclature used by an ever-changing soldiery on post (who will know no other name), expect and participate in the new name in our community.

The JBLM Growth Coordination Kick-Off Workshop was held Friday at the McGavick Center, Clover Park Technical College.  About 100 attendees were present to begin the process of a Pierce-Thurston Counties collaborative effort with Fort Lewis (source of growth and soon-to-be manager of JBLM). (McChord representatives are participants too.)

The Growth Coordination Plan will identify and analyze community “gaps” that exist in the region in regard to being able to properly handle Ft. Lewis and McChord AFB’s anticipated growth. At the April 9, 2009, Growth Coordination Workshop attended by over 90 Study Area stakeholders, participants identified ten functional areas as elements that needed to be analyzed in detail.

The plan seeks to address such questions as:
1. Where is the future growth going?
2. Do the communities like where future development is headed, and do they have the tools to shape
more desirable growth patterns?
3. Are the communities doing what is necessary to accommodate the needs of the soldiers, airmen and
their families?

The objectives of the Growth Coordination Plan are to:
1. Identify and assess existing conditions
2. Determine future needs of an increased military population
3. Develop short term and long term priorities and potential funding sources to accommodate this
growth
4. Develop planning, coordination and implementation strategies that help achieve the long term
strategic goals of the stakeholders during this period of growth and change
5. Maintain a central point of coordination for all major stakeholders who are impacted by the expansion
of Ft. Lewis
6. Promote regular communication with all local and regional groups and committees that discuss
military installation infrastructure and service issues and concerns
7. Establish a clear set of action steps to local communities about managing future growth and demands
for services

To help keep the general public informed, the JBLM Growth Coordination has set up a publicly-available website.  This website has also been listed among the community links featured on this blog.

The first community checkup on the DoD/OEA (Office of Economic Adjustment) community planning grant was presented to a joint meeting of the Tacoma-Pierce County and Lakewood Chambers' Military Affairs Committees this morning.

Dan Penrose, Project Manager for the City of Lakewood, the designated regional lead agency, gave members an overview of the significance of the defense industry presence in the South Sound region.

Actually a set of two grant awards, Lakewood is addressing I-5 transportation alternatives and a growth coordination plan. The transportation alternatives grant was begun in March 2009 with a final report expected Summer 2010. The $1.3 million growth coordination plan award was made in August 2009 with project completion planned for December 2010.

Although these planning dollars don't fix our physical infrastructure needs, they are a first step in getting them "shovel-ready," for the documented "ask" the community will need to prepare for our Congressional delegation.

The Senate has confirmed that Lt. Gen. Ray Johns, Jr., will receive his fourth star when he takes command of Air Mobility Command. Johns has served as the Air Staff's deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs and is a former 62nd AW Commander, McChord AFB.

The bi-annual Air Mobility Command (AMC) Rodeo, currently underway at McChord AFB, took care to share with local community leadership what it's all about.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber's Military Affairs Committee welcomes the 26 countries competing or observing the 2009 Air Mobility Command (AMC) Rodeo.

The International Icebreaker was hosted by community firms in the Working Waterfront Maritime Museum for the beginning of the AMC Rodeo hosted at McChord AFB.

See our slide show and video. You are welcome to enjoy this premier and fun event at the Foss Waterway Seaport.

Congressman Adam Smith reported today he voted in support of H.R. 2647, the fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The NDAA authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 2010 military activities including the Department of Defense, the national security programs of the Department of Energy, military construction projects and other defense and military personnel activities related to U.S. national security efforts.

Congressman Smith cited these authorizations he requested for funding:

· $9,000,000 – Military Construction to construct a joint base access road between Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base.
· $2,500,000 – Tacoma Trauma Trust for trauma training of military medical personnel at local civilian hospitals
· $2,500,000 – Western Regional Counterdrug Training Center to re-establish a fifth counter-drug training center, which would be located at Camp Murray, Washington
· $2,000,000 – Quest Integrated to develop new inspection methods and procedures using magneto-optic imaging for F-15s that will eliminate the need to disassemble part of the aircraft.
· $1,800,000 – Sagem Morpho to develop a portable device that will be used by operators in the field to search, capture, and identity latent fingerprints.
· $1,200,000 – Evergreen Recycling to conduct a comprehensive analysis to reduce the amount of landfill waste at Ft. Lewis.

The bill must now be approved by the Senate and signed by the President before it becomes law.

Colonel Kevin J. Kilb takes command of the 62nd Airlift Wing from Col. Jeffrey L. Stephenson in a change of command ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday.

Colonel Kilb arrives at McChord from Headquarters, United States Air Force in Washington, D.C., where he served as Chief of Global Mobility Division and Chair of Global Mobility Panel, Directorate of Programs, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs.

Defense was the watchword for the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s 24th annual Washington-to-Washington, D.C. visit. The local delegation was focused on defense issues with extended visits in the Pentagon and with most of the state’s Congressional delegation.

We discussed with our Congressional Delegation and various Departments in the Executive Branch, support for Boeing with the tanker issue, school facilities at Fort Lewis and growth impacts of Fort Lewis.

The delegation was comprised of Pierce County business leaders and civic officials ranging from corporations and family-owned businesses along with officials from the Port of Tacoma and the cities of Tacoma and Lakewood.

The trip took place over the course of a three-and-half day period in mid-May. During that time, the Chamber met with most of the congressional delegation members for Washington State, officials from the Pentagon including Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley, and the Association of the United States Army. Those meeting included appointments with Installation Management Commands for the Army and the Air Force as well as the DoD agency, the Office of Economic Adjustment.

It is evident the Chamber’s constant and continuous communication over the last twenty-four years with these officials and congressional members in Washington, D.C. has resulted in funding for our infrastructure, security, transportation and military bases.

The Chamber especially thanks this year’s sponsors for their commitment and dedication to making our organization and our advocacy at the federal level better: Waste Connections, Simpson, The Boeing Company, Comcast and Totem Ocean Trailer Express.

This year’s trip to Washington, D.C. was the 24th taken to the nation’s capital by the Chamber. If you are interested in participating in next year’s trip – the Chamber’s silver anniversary trip – please contact Mike Weinman.

Lakewood today began a regional coordinated response to the growth occurring - and more ahead - at Fort Lewis.

About 30 agencies and 84 registered attendees spent this morning understanding the issues of education, transportation, housing, utilities & emergency services and quality of life/support network along with consideration of economic opportunities and workforce development. The session was facilitated by Erika Schmidt, Pres., Frause.



Thanks: Ft. Lewis


Issue synopses were presented by:

• Tom Knight, Deputy Garrison Commander, Ft. Lewis



• Gaylord Higa, Deputy Base Civil Engineer, 62nd AW, McChord AFB



• Amanda Fagan, Project Manager, Office of Economic Adjustment/DoD



• James A. Noone, Clark & Weinstock

With the inexorable progress down the road to Joint Basing for various installations - and especially for us here in the PNW, it pays to be attentive to discussions of Joint Basing.

The GAO (Government Accountability Office) has just released a new report on the standards and costs at Joint Bases. If you've not noticed, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (or McLewis as the wags would have it) is in our horizon, and its component parts do make mention in the GAO report.

The bottom line is that DoD is underfunding base sustainability. At McChord, the GAO found 82% of standard service levels met while at Ft. Lewis, 65% of current service levels met the standard. For 2008, the Army budgeted at 89% and the Air Force at 90% of sustainment requirements.

One could only hope that the current levels of funding anticipated from ARRA (Stimulus Bill) will catch up that funding shortfall.

Procurement may provide the stimulus to your business.

Is part of your business strategy diversifying your business to include government contracts? Congressman Adam Smith is interested in helping local businesses become more successful through government contracting opportunities by offering you a free procurement conference April 14.

Cong. Smith’s procurement conference is designed to assist businesses gain knowledge of government contracting and begin to establish long-term working relationships with federal agencies. This conference also provides an excellent opportunity for local businesses to meet contractors with whom they might be able to partner. This conference is free and light refreshments will be provided.

Scheduled speakers represent: Department of Veterans Affairs, Small Business Administration, General Services Administration, Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base among other federal and state agencies.

Date: Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Time: 8:00 a.m. to Noon
Location: Evergreen State College, Tacoma Campus, 1210 6th Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98405 Link to map
RSVP: Tina Johnson or call (253) 593-6600 or (888) SMITH09

Commanders of the Washington National Guard, Ft. Lewis and the 62nd AW were front and center for the annual Commanding Officers Briefing this morning.

Maj. Gen. Tim Lowenberg, Adjutant General, Washington National Guard, lead the parade of military leaders. He said Camp Murray is home to the State's Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Continuity of Government (COG). A new Homeland Security Training Center has been used for local, state, tribal, national and bilateral stakeholder collaboration. This has been essential for our ongoing preparations for the 2010 Olympics. Currently, the WNG has Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Qatar & Germany. We also typically have a "steady state" overseas deployment rate of 20-40% of our total force. In addition, Washington Guardsmen and 'women routinely deploy in support of domestic operations such as flood relief, border security missions, Hurricane Katrina support and so on. Military Construction for FY09 totaled $42.3 million. All projects but one ($780k Hangar Renovation in Spokane) in Pierce County: $41.52 million. These projects include $2.5M for Western Regional Counter Drug Training Facility on Camp Murray and a $3.5M Expansion for 262nd IWAS "Cyber Domain" (an emerging USAF field).

Brig. Gen. Jeff Mathis, Deputy Commanding General, I Corps & Ft. Lewis, and soon to be the rear eschelon for I Corps during their impending deployment developed his update from a PowerPoint.

Col. Mike Hornitschek, Vice Commander, 62nd Airlift Wing, likewise utilized a PowerPoint to support his presentation.

The Fort Lewis Ranger newspaper is gearing up to support the families of Fort Lewis and McChord AFB personnel deployed this summer and fall.

To do that, they are looking to compile a list of ALL organizations and activities that support military families (from large ones like USO to the woman in Dupont baking birthday cakes for children of deployed moms and dads).

If you could send them names, phone numbers, web sites - anything - they'd greatly appreciate it. They want to do stories and listings in their paper. Feel free to offer story ideas as well!!

MILITARY AFFAIRS FORUM
Military Affairs Committee
Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber

Commanding Officers Briefing
Wednesday, March 11
7:30 – 9:00 a.m.

Updated AGENDA

Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, Commanding General, I Corps & Ft. Lewis (confirmed)
Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg, Adjutant General, Washington National Guard (confirmed)
Col. Michael Hornitschek, 62nd Airlift Wing Vice Commander (confirmed)

The Commanding Officers have been asked, as in previous years, to brief the region’s chambers with a recap of the immediate year’s events and a forecast for the coming year.

The Commanding Officers Briefing will be held Wednesday, March 11. Registration will begin at 7:15 a.m. with a breakfast buffet served at 7:30 a.m. The event will be held at the La Quinta Inn & Suites, 1425 E. 27th St., Tacoma 98421

The price of the event is $13. RESERVATIONS are required and may be made to Rose, or online at Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s website calendar. Deadline for RSVPs is March 9 10:00 a.m., Monday.

Breakfast Buffet: $13.00 with RSVP. Non-reserved attendance: $15.00
RSVP: Rose Crist, 253-627-2175; rose.crist@tacomachamber.org DUE 10 am, 03/09/09.

Please RSVP by 10:00 a.m. on Mar. 9, Monday!
RSVPs may be made through Rose Crist:
phone: 253/627-2175 or fax 253/597-7305 or
E-mail: Rose or
Online: here
(Non-RSVPs welcome, but PLEASE call to help with plans for meals and seating arrangements.) Those persons reserving and not attending or canceling before the RSVP deadline will be billed.


ANNOUNCEMENT
The Chamber announces its newest blog: C-9 Blog, which will focus on the armed forces and civilian relationships, with an emphasis on the Pacific Northwest. Please visit and subscribe to this free information source.

Our community can appreciate the caution and need to reposition aircraft from Elmendorf to McChord based on the uncertainties and dangers of volcanoes. After all, Mt. St. Helens taught us that lesson.

See following the press release from McChord AFB:

MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. – Airmen here are supporting a precautionary redeployment of Air Force aircraft from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska to McChord Air Force Base. The aircraft and approximately 200 Airmen who operate and maintain them are being temporarily relocated in light of increased activity associated with Mount Redoubt volcano, located approximately 100-miles from Elmendorf AFB.

Three Air Force Reserve Command C-130Js on assignment from Mississippi to Alaska relocated to McChord Saturday; three Pacific Air Forces C-17s will arrive late tonight. Other aircraft may arrive within the next 24 to 48 hours. McChord leadership anticipates the redeployment to last two to four weeks at a minimum.

McChord’s own C-17 strategic airlift mission makes the base ideally suited to host the relocated aircraft and allows the Elmendorf Airmen to continue to meet mission and training requirements.

Our ability to quickly receive additional air power on short notice and continue to support the nation’s worldwide strategic airlift requirements is a capability long-associated with McChord, said Col Jeffrey Stephenson, McChord’s 62nd Airlift Wing commander.