JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Delegation Day, an April 25 Joint Base Lewis-McChord and I Corps event meant to build and strengthen relationships with key congressional staff, local elected officials and Army Reserve/Civilian Aide representatives, sparked interest in future engagements.
“We would like to communicate to legislators recent updates to our mission profile on the joint base, our priorities to serve as the strategic pivot point for the Indo-Pacific, and to discuss other legislative priorities that impact either mission readiness or quality of life for our service members and their families,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Wismann, JBLM Garrison executive officer. “Our goal is to leave here with new relationships to be able to foster good civic and military dialogue about ways that we help each other and our mutual interests for the community.”
I Corps echoed this goal.
“We were honored to host our congressional delegates at America’s First Corps. Their visit highlights the vital partnership between the Army and our elected leaders as we work together to strengthen readiness, enhance quality of life for Soldiers and families, and ensure Joint Base Lewis-McChord retains its role as a vital power projection platform for the western United States — ready to respond in support of our nation’s defense,” said Col. Jennifer Bocanegra, spokesperson for America’s First Corps.
The inaugural event included an interactive High Mobility Artillery Rocket System display and briefings and demonstrations from the 62nd Airlift Wing, 7th Infantry Division, 5th Security Forces Assistance Brigade, 1st Special Forces Group and 1st Multi-Domain Task Force. Also included were a “State of the Garrison” update and a meet-and-greet session with Lt. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, I Corps commander.
“Even as an Army veteran, today’s tour was fantastic,” said Maria Tobin, South Sound Military and Communities Partnership program manager. “It just gave all of the participants an opportunity to see the importance of JBLM to the national defense and how supporting JBLM is so important for that reason.”
Liz Larter, deputy chief of staff and district director for Rep. Marilyn Strickland, welcomed the event, noting it had been some time since a similar engagement at JBLM.
The event was a way for people off-base to learn more about the installation’s mission, the scope of services provided by JBLM service members, the base’s capabilities and “the complexity of what it means to be not only serving in today’s military, but the complexity of what’s happening internationally,” Larter said.
“There’s something about going and seeing and doing, versus reading or sitting on a Teams or a Zoom meeting just being presented something,” Larter said. “Actually, tactically being able to see and hear perspectives just rounds out your awareness and kind-of fills in those gaps.”
Delegation Day was about transparency and communication, Wismann said.
“We need the advocacy of our legislators, at everything from city and county to state and federal level, to enable our mission’s success,” he said. “But we also recognize that we serve as an important economic engine for the region, and so we want to make sure that our impact to the community is at a net benefit to the local and state governments.”
Tammie Perreault, northwest regional liaison, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, Military Community and Family Policy, said her office views “this area, the South Sound, as critical in identifying and supporting different policies and services for our military families.”
And delegates on April 25 consistently inquired about work-life balance for service members and the impact on families.
“By hosting events like this, where you bring folks that are stakeholders from across the region, whether they are elected officials or whether they are engaged in other policy processes, it really helps tell the story of America’s Joint Base, the economic impact and the impact of the richness and culture that our community brings to the area,” Perreault said.
“I look forward to Joint Base Lewis-McChord making this a regular tradition and event,” she said. “I think continuing to do this at regular intervals will help increase engagement and tell the story for our military community and our partners that we’re here to work together. It’s a great kickoff to new partnerships and growing engagement for our community. It’s very exciting.”
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