By Larry Jones
July 14, 2008

During a June 22 meeting of the Task Force on Community and Military Relations, the chair, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, released a report containing examples of efforts in 26 cities, large and small across the nation, reaching out to military men and women, their families, and military installations. Anchorage is one of the cities featured in the report, which the mayor describes as a military town with more than 15,000 service members and the home of 20,000 veterans. He explained that the city has established a new full-time Special Assistant position for Military and Veterans Affairs, which provides timely information, guidance and coordination for service members and veterans in the community.

Copies of the report "City Support for America’s Troops and Military Installations" was made available to mayors attending the meeting and can be downloaded at www.usmayors org. The report describes efforts underway in these cities to convey to military personnel and their families the gratitude felt by their cities for the sacrifices they have made in service to the country.

At the meeting mayors from several cities summarized efforts underway in their cities.

Mayor Lionel Rivera told mayors that Colorado Springs is the home of five military installations: among them Fort Carson, Peterson and Schriever Air Force Bases, NORAD, and the Air Force Academy. He said the city participates in monthly leadership meetings that involve senior elected and appointed local officials and senior installation commanders to discuss issues of mutual interest and reach consensus on a course of actionsto take to address them. Security, land use compatibility, law enforcement and various mutual aid programs are examples of some of the issues discussed. He also shared information on the city’s Home Front Care program, which raises private funds to provide various forms of assistance to service members and their families.

Pocatello has three major programs to support military personnel and their families. In 2004 when three city employees were called to serve in Iraq, Mayor Roger Chase told mayors that he and the city council approved a wage and benefits program, which continues their insurance benefits and makes up any difference between their military pay and city wages. The city also sponsors a spouse support program, which provides assistance to surviving spouses of service men and women killed in action. The program pays the costs of utility bills for three months. Further, the city sponsors a recreation program, which allows military personnel to use its indoor Community Recreation Center at no cost. And the city approved a once a month "military family night" for families of military personnel who will be charged half price for using its Ross Park Aquatic Complex.

Tulsa has established many programs to assist military personnel and their families. Among them, Mayor Kathern Taylor explained that she hired a full time Military and Veterans Affairs Coordinator in January. The city has also established a veterans advisory council that focuses on health, housing, employment, disabilities and returning veterans. In addition, the city provides extended benefits for city employees called to active duty; has a partnership with H & R Block that offers free tax preparation assistant to city employees deployed in the War on Terror and their families; and provides paid leave to city employees for military training or active duty.

In response to a significant decline in applicants for the city’s police department, Mayor Martin Chavez told mayors that the city established an exchange program with Kirkland Air Force Base Security Forces that permits qualified members of the Air Force Security Forces to attend the Albuquerque Police Academy and receive, upon successful completion, New Mexico law enforcement certification. The police department has also established liaisons with the Military Transition Assistance Program Services in all military installations considered out-processing centers.