HomeNewsArticle Display

Tinker, community leaders sign charter, comment on support relationship

  • Published
  • By Micah Garbarino
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Tinker and community leaders came together June 26 to sign the charter for a cost-saving partnership initiative that drew praise from Air Force top brass and earned an award from the Association of Defense communities.

The Community Partnership Initiative, which is a vehicle for mutally beneficial public-public and public-private partnerships, has already saved the installation thousands of dollars annually and is expected to save much more in the future. The early successes are particularly welcome news to leadership during a time when "every dollar counts."

"There are things that we have to do on this base and in the communities that are mutually supporting -- taking care of roads, taking care of the library, taking care of our Airmen and the infrastructure," said Lt. Gen. Bruce Litchfield, Air Force Sustainment Center commander. "What we're able to do here at Tinker can be replicated at the other bases as people learn the power of what happens when you can consolidate - the money you can save, and the win-win situation that happens when you partner with the local communities. We're very fortunate to have this."

In November 2012, Tinker and community members from Del City, Midwest City, Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County started brainstorming beneficial partnerships. So far, two of the ideas, partnerships in jail services and juvenile services have become a reality.

After the signing, Oklahoma County Commissioner Ray Vaughn said, "I think it's a wonderful day for Tinker and the surrounding communities."

Mayors from the surrounding communities also shared their thoughts:

"There are things that municipalities do very well and things that the military does very well inside this base," said Oklahoma City mayor, Mick Cornett. "Let's be creative, let's develop relationships, let's look for ways we can partner that make the base more efficient."

"I think it's a duty for all of us -- whatever we can do on our (community) side of the fence to help the men and women who protect our freedom. I'm very proud to be a part of it," said Midwest City Mayor Jack Fry.

"We've been partnering a long time in our jobs and in our communities," said Del City mayor Brian Linley. "In these days and times, every dollar counts."

As a result of Tinker AFB officials' effort to build strong relationships with the local community, the Association of Defense Communities named the base as the 2013 Department of Defense Installation of the Year. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Larry Spencer recently praised the effort saying, "These Airmen have created successful community partnerships that helped to save money and still meet base support requirements."

Tinker is the first of 15 Air Force bases participating in the Air Force test program. Both other Air Force Sustainment Center Bases -- Hill AFB, Utah and Robins AFB, Ga. -- are also participating in the program and have also seen early success.

Hill has signed an agreement with local universities and colleges where students pursuing degrees in education or library sciences can intern with the base's library providing services and programs for the base populace. In turn, students receive academic credit for their degree programs while getting practical job training and experience.

In addition to sharintg library resoucrces with the community. Robins has signed agreements to utilize local medical facilities to provide needed hands-on medical training, avoiding costly temporary duty travel expense. Robins officials have also negotiated joint use of on and off base firing ranges, enabling the abse to sustain just-in-time training for deployments; even when the base range is down for maintenance.
Other bases participating in the Air Force Community Partnership Initiative include: Altus AFB, Okla.; Beale AFB, Calif.; Buckley AFB, Colo.; Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; Fairchild AFB, Wash.; Joint Base Andrews, Md.; Maxwell AFB, Ala.; Moody AFB, Ga.; Nellis AFB, Nev.; Patrick AFB, Fla.; Peterson AFB, Colo.; Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.; and Sheppard AFB, Texas.