Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Tacoma News Tribune
May 3, 2008 By Brent Champaco
A who’s who of Fort Lewis officials joined local government leaders Friday to reaffirm the close ties between the base and the rest of the South Sound.
They all signed a document called the Army Community Covenant with the goal of making life better for the post’s soldiers and their families.
At a Clover Park Technical College ceremony, they offered real-life examples of how the base and its neighbors are intertwined.
They told stories about how a Rotary Club from Lakewood gave roses to wives of soldiers overseas. They spoke of the tens of thousands of hours that Fort Lewis families volunteer in local churches, as Little League coaches and in other activities.
Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, the commanding general of Fort Lewis and I Corps, offered an example of how much community support means to soldiers: Fort Lewis’ rate of re-enlistment is twice the Army’s average.
“They do it because they love their community,” he said.
The Army will hold similar signings at military posts around the country the rest of the year. Columbus, Ga., and New York state already have signed covenants.
The event in Lakewood had a notable no-show. Secretary of the Army Pete Geren had mechanical problems with his plane in California, officials said.
In his place, Jack Creighton, the state’s civilian aide to Geren and former CEO of Weyerhaeuser, read a prepared statement from the stranded secretary.
“Partnerships like these are essential to the community and the Army” growing together, Creighton read to the crowd.
For Fort Lewis, the covenant felt like a reaffirmation of the post’s strong ties to the South Sound. In 2000 it established a program in which commanders of each of the post’s 15 major active-duty units teamed with a city or local government for mutual support.
From Gig Harbor to Puyallup, from Seattle to the Nisqually Tribe, “community connectors” are formed. Commanders from the assigned units try to be visible in those communities and lead civilian tours of the Army post.
Lakewood, which is the connector to the 4th Stryker Brigade now in Iraq, hosted Friday’s event. Mayors, city council members and representatives of other South Sound communities – from as far south as Tumwater and as far north as Auburn – signed the covenant.
Lakewood Mayor Doug Richardson, a brigadier general in the Army Reserve, spoke about how proud and honored the communities outside Fort Lewis are to help soldiers and their families.
“They live among us as friends and neighbors,” he said.
Washington Lt. Gov. Brad Owen and U.S. Rep. Adam Smith also spoke.
Smith, a Tacoma Democrat, said neighbors can best serve Fort Lewis families in two ways: Recognize their sacrifices and vow to help them whenever they can.
Maj. Rich Amadon, an operations officer with the 5-3 Field Artillery Battalion, said he sees community support every time he steps outside his front door.
Amadon, 39, lives in Puyallup with wife, Val, and two daughters, Katie, 16, and Meagan, 13.
He recalled standing in line at a store and showing the clerk his military ID card.
Immediately, the clerk and the customers behind him thanked him for his service.
“It shows the soldiers that the local community really does care about us,” he said. “It’s a very welcoming feeling.”
May 3, 2008 By Brent Champaco
A who’s who of Fort Lewis officials joined local government leaders Friday to reaffirm the close ties between the base and the rest of the South Sound.
They all signed a document called the Army Community Covenant with the goal of making life better for the post’s soldiers and their families.
At a Clover Park Technical College ceremony, they offered real-life examples of how the base and its neighbors are intertwined.
They told stories about how a Rotary Club from Lakewood gave roses to wives of soldiers overseas. They spoke of the tens of thousands of hours that Fort Lewis families volunteer in local churches, as Little League coaches and in other activities.
Lt. Gen. Charles Jacoby, the commanding general of Fort Lewis and I Corps, offered an example of how much community support means to soldiers: Fort Lewis’ rate of re-enlistment is twice the Army’s average.
“They do it because they love their community,” he said.
The Army will hold similar signings at military posts around the country the rest of the year. Columbus, Ga., and New York state already have signed covenants.
The event in Lakewood had a notable no-show. Secretary of the Army Pete Geren had mechanical problems with his plane in California, officials said.
In his place, Jack Creighton, the state’s civilian aide to Geren and former CEO of Weyerhaeuser, read a prepared statement from the stranded secretary.
“Partnerships like these are essential to the community and the Army” growing together, Creighton read to the crowd.
For Fort Lewis, the covenant felt like a reaffirmation of the post’s strong ties to the South Sound. In 2000 it established a program in which commanders of each of the post’s 15 major active-duty units teamed with a city or local government for mutual support.
From Gig Harbor to Puyallup, from Seattle to the Nisqually Tribe, “community connectors” are formed. Commanders from the assigned units try to be visible in those communities and lead civilian tours of the Army post.
Lakewood, which is the connector to the 4th Stryker Brigade now in Iraq, hosted Friday’s event. Mayors, city council members and representatives of other South Sound communities – from as far south as Tumwater and as far north as Auburn – signed the covenant.
Lakewood Mayor Doug Richardson, a brigadier general in the Army Reserve, spoke about how proud and honored the communities outside Fort Lewis are to help soldiers and their families.
“They live among us as friends and neighbors,” he said.
Washington Lt. Gov. Brad Owen and U.S. Rep. Adam Smith also spoke.
Smith, a Tacoma Democrat, said neighbors can best serve Fort Lewis families in two ways: Recognize their sacrifices and vow to help them whenever they can.
Maj. Rich Amadon, an operations officer with the 5-3 Field Artillery Battalion, said he sees community support every time he steps outside his front door.
Amadon, 39, lives in Puyallup with wife, Val, and two daughters, Katie, 16, and Meagan, 13.
He recalled standing in line at a store and showing the clerk his military ID card.
Immediately, the clerk and the customers behind him thanked him for his service.
“It shows the soldiers that the local community really does care about us,” he said. “It’s a very welcoming feeling.”