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Army Earth Day 2014: Sustain the Mission. Secure the Future.

Tuesday April 22, 2014

What is it?

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970; It began as a grassroots effort to teach and encourage environmental stewardship, create an awareness of the Earth’s fragile environment, and ultimately, develop awareness in American society. In 1971, the U.S. Army joined in the Earth Day campaign.

What has the Army done?

Each year, the U.S. Army celebrates Earth Day at approximately 200 installations, major commands and organizations. The Army’s Earth Day theme: Sustain the Mission. Secure the Future. reflects the Army’s commitment to meeting the current and future needs of Soldiers, their families, and the nation through sound stewardship and use of environmental resources.

The Army’s Environmental Program: Acknowledges the past by restoring Army lands to useable condition and preserving cultural and historical resources; Engages the present by meeting environmental standards, enabling operations, and protecting Soldiers, families and communities; and, Charts the future by institutionalizing best practices and the use of technology to ensure future environmental resiliency.

The Army’s commitment to the environment doesn’t end with Army Earth Day, as is demonstrated by the Army and Army National Guard (ARNG) Installations and teams recognized for their sound environmental practices and stewardship and acknowledged as winners in this year’s Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards competition:

  • – Cultural Resources Management, Installation: Fort Wainwright, Alaska
  • – Environmental Quality Team: Minnesota ARNG
  • – Environmental Quality, Non-Industrial Installation: Fort Hood, Texas

As well as the following Secretary of the Army awards:

Why is this important to the Army?

Environmental stewardship leads to better training lands, improved recreational opportunities, healthier communities, and strong partnerships. Environmental sustainability is now part of every installation’s and unit’s operations, from munitions production to live-fire training, from our housing areas to our forward operating bases.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned for the future?

Observance of Army Earth Day provides an opportunity to acknowledge the interdependence of our military’s mission with our natural environment and the well-being of our communities and chart a path to environmental sustainability. On Army Earth Day the Army recommits to protecting the lands in the Army’s care and ensure that they are there for future Soldiers to train, and for families, Army Civilians and the community to enjoy. The Army takes into consideration the “boot print” the Soldiers make, the impact they have on the resources, whether on an installation, deployed, or at home.

Army Green is Army Strong!

Resources:

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