WASHINGTON – The Department of the Army hosted the 10th Annual Army Community Partnership (ACP) Awards Ceremony, honoring five Army installations and their neighboring communities that improved quality of life for Soldiers and families, enhanced readiness, modernized services, expanded capabilities, and strengthened community relations.
"I am honored to be hosting today's ceremony along with Mr. David Dentino, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Housing and Partnerships, recognizing our installations and communities for demonstrating exceptional partnerships. These partnerships directly support the Army's readiness, efficiency, and quality of life initiatives," said Jordan Gillis, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment.
The ACP Awards Program seeks to highlight examples of exceptional cooperation and diligence that will encourage continued collaboration to achieve the full potential of community partnerships. The awardees represent partnerships that have improved quality of life for Soldiers and their families, enhanced readiness, driven modernization, and contributed to reform initiatives throughout the Army.
"We are recognizing partnerships that demonstrate shared commitments and the enduring power of unity and shared purpose," Gillis said. "It's important to remember the Army Community Partnership program is only as strong as the bonds we have with our communities, and that's not lost on Army senior leaders or me. The efforts that you have put forth demonstrate what's necessary to drive successful partnerships."
The Army selected five installation-community teams who formed innovative partnerships that delivered shared services, boosted efficiency, and strengthened local ties:
- U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii Kolekole Pass Partnership
- U.S. Army Reserve and the State of Utah
- Fort Rucker and the Alabama Power Company
- USAG Wiesbaden, 2d Theater Signal Brigade and Wackernheim
- Fort Hood and Hill Country Transit District
Gillis also stressed, "the value of these partnerships to support our Soldiers by filling a capability gap as needed. Not only are the gaps addressed, but we can achieve significant efficiencies while doing so, thanks to the strategic benefits of burden sharing. As always, the Army is leading the way, holding over two-thirds of the Department of War's entire partnership portfolio with the longest-running partnership awards programs."
About the Army Community Partnership Program
Established in 2013, the ACP Office helps installations and local governments develop shared services that benefit both the Army and surrounding communities. Since the awards program began in 2016, the ACP office has recognized 66 partnerships and helped execute 210 Intergovernmental Support Agreements (IGSAs), generating $120 million in annual savings for the Army.
The ACP Office works across the Army enterprise to match installations and public partners with the right tools to implement effective, mutually beneficial partnerships.
These efforts aim to:
- Enhance Quality of Life for Soldier and their families, as outlined by the Chief of Staff of the Army’s QoL Initiatives
- Create cost savings/avoidance and efficiencies for the Army and Community
- Sustain and improve support services for Soldiers and their Families, and the Community
- Strengthen relationships between the Installation and surrounding Communities
- Implement Army lessons learned and best practices for the installation and land holding command pilot partnership programs
These partnerships go beyond cost savings—they improve emergency response times, streamline services, and build trusted lines of communication between installations and local agencies. Each effort contributes directly to Army readiness and operational effectiveness.
Selection Process
Awardees are selected by a panel of judges representing the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Army Reserve, Air National Guard, and the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation (OLDCC). Each nomination is scored based on innovation, impact, and potential for replication.
These partnerships reflect the Army's enduring commitment to collaboration, innovation, and community engagement—key drivers in sustaining readiness, improving quality of life, and supporting the force of the future.
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