By Larry Jones
February 11, 2008

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich convened the first meeting of the Community/Military Relations Task Force on January 24 during the Winter Meeting. Mayors from a diverse group of cities attended the meeting, including mayors from Camden (NJ), Sumter (SC), Rochester (MN), Yuma (AZ), Valdosta (GA) and Piscataway (NJ). Begich explained that the goal of the task force is to invite mayors from around the country who have military bases in their cities to share ideas and develop a best practice guide for military communities, and assist military families.

Air Force Major General Herbert J. “Hawk” Carlise, who served as Commander of the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, spoke to members of the task force about his experience working with Begich and the Anchorage community. While commanding the base, he said the majority of military families lived in neighborhoods, used public schools, participated in the PTAs, and depend on the city for a variety of services. He said as men and women at Elmendorf AFB go off to fight conflicts, the families left behind most often must make many adjustments. That’s where local communities can step in and partner with the military establishments to make sure they get the support they need.

Carlise said he and Begich developed a close relationship out of a mutual desire to assist the military men and women and their families. He mentioned a number of memorandum of understandings developed between Elmendorf AFB and Anchorage to support men and women on and off the base. An emergency 911 system was established to: help police and fire fighters better respond to emergencies of military families; a plan was developed for responding to natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods; and a plan was also developed that involved setting aside two runways at the Air Force Base that could be used for evacuation in case something happened to Anchorage International Airport. He said Elmendorf also worked with the city in sponsoring the Para Olympics of wheelchair games for disabled veterans.

Begich also discuss a number of initiatives in Anchorage that have been implemented to address military concerns. A 15-member commission has been established to: address military relations and veterans issues with the municipality; a municipal military and veterans affairs coordinator has been hired to address issues concerning ever-increasing active military and veteran presence in Anchorage; a First Lady Military and Family Support Initiative formed over three years ago to sponsor numerous recognition and recreational events throughout the year; and an employer support group was established to support employees in the National Guard or Reserve who are called to active duty. The city provides military leave, differential pay, and health care beyond that required by law.

In closing, Begich said the next step for the task force is to survey cities to find out what’s going on in local communities across the nation to support military personnel and their families, and to begin developing a best practice guide.