MOU signing

On March 27, Midwest City mayor Jack Fry and Col. Steven Bleymaier, commander of the 72nd Air Base Wing, signed a Memorandum of Understanding dealing with juvenile intervention for minor crimes and a Memorandum of Agreement for jail services. The agreements were reached as part of the Air Force’s “P4” Community Partnership Initiative. (Air Force photo by Kelly White)

Agreements with MWC just the beginning

Published April 25, 2013
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Tinker Air Force Base's strong legacy of community partnership is moving to a new level as part of an Air Force initiative designed to leverage resources on and off base.

"Our nation's fiscal realities mandate that we expand our continuous search for efficiencies beyond the fence line," said Col. Steven Bleymaier, 72nd Air Base Wing commander. "The Air Force's Community Partnership Initiative is a 'win-win' opportunity for reducing costs and strengthening our communities as a whole."

The Community Partnership Initiative is a framework through which installation and community leaders can develop creative ways to leverage their capabilities and resources to focus on achieving reduced costs, or reductions in risk, by finding shared value.

The program, known as P4, brings public-public and public-private partnership opportunities together under one initiative.

Such partnerships enable collaboration between multiple entities, creating opportunities through which military and community leaders can identify common objectives with the goal of managing available resources efficiently and effectively.

A team of management and subject matter experts from Tinker and its neighboring communities have been meeting regularly for months as one of the Air Force's initial test sites. Recently, the team was expanded to more than 40 people representing Tinker, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma City, Midwest City and Del City and several other local organizations.

"We are truly leading the way," said Colonel Bleymaier. "The two memorandums of understanding recently signed with Midwest City are the first to be completed under the Air Force Community Partnership Initiative. Our successes are Air Force successes."
These agreements are just the first of several potential partnerships under consideration.

"Based on the level of enthusiasm and cooperation we have seen to date, we have just scratched the surface of what these types of partnerships can do for the entire community," Said Colonel Bleymaier. "The commitment we have seen from every level of the base and community to find a way to 'yes" has been remarkable."