Moody, community leaders sign partnership charter

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Brianca Williams
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The Moody Community Partnership Committee met to sign a charter here formalizing community initiatives between Valdosta and the base April 24, 2014.

The city of Valdosta, Lowndes County, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, Valdosta State University, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and South Georgia Medical Center, all members of the committee, participated in the signing at Moody.
 
"Moody Field has always been an important part of Valdosta," said Mayor John Gayle. "We've always embraced Moody and the people here are so important to the city. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Moody."

The committee was formed under the Air Force Community Partnership Initiative to enhance mission capabilities and improve quality of life for Airmen by implementing collaborative efforts with the community. The organizations have worked together to identify partnership opportunities since April 2013 when Moody was selected as one of 16 prototype bases for the Air Force program.

The Moody Community Partnership Committee has allowed the base to team up with various community stakeholders in efforts to reduce operating and service costs, or reduce risks, in support of the Air Force mission, while creating shared value for community partners.

"We really have a common shared environment that we work within. We share a lot of the same challenges," said Lt. Col. Mandy Birch, partnership broker for the Air Force Community Partnership Initiative. "Whether that's our fiscal situation or our desire to serve a population, it's beneficial to come together to talk about some of the challenges."

A training agreement between the VSU Athletic Training Department and the 23d Medical Group was formalized on March 6. The Warrior Athlete Center of Excellence will serve Airmen while providing internships to VSU students. The committee continues to work together to identify additional future partnership opportunities.

"People feel welcome here," said John Eunice, deputy base civil engineer. "They're more than just a name, rank, and service number. They come back and feel like they belong in this community. They identify with Valdosta and the whole South Georgia area. It's a great place to be and the community around us embraces Moody, the Airmen who are here, and their families."