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You’re connected!

Connector program works

Isaiah Jones and soldiers from 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team during the City of Lakewood’s annual SummerFest. Photo credit: 2nd Infantry Division

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Joint Base Lewis-McChord and the surrounding municipalities are well connected. This connection informs and strengthens -- both the base and the cities work successfully together to support each other.

Not long after 9/11, it became clear that the military and civilian communities needed each other. The ensuing high rate of deployment had significant effects on military families, the schools their children attended, and the economies of the towns near them.

Realizing this, the Army charged brigade-sized units to develop and promote positive and durable relationships with their municipal partners. To this end, I Corps created its first Community Connector Program.

This mandate extends to wherever JBLM soldiers live and train; hence, there are 18 Community Connector Programs in the South Puget Sound area and one east of the Cascades in the Ellensburg/Yakima area.

The 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, offers a good example of how this relationship works. Partnered with the nearby City of Lakewood, the brigade actively seeks opportunities to engage with the citizens and representatives of the city.

"Our longstanding relationship with this healthy and vibrant community, its businesses and citizens, clearly demonstrates our care for Lakewood," wrote Maj. Sonie Munson, the brigade's public affairs officer.

Likewise, this connection is appreciated and cultivated by city and school officials. "We value and enjoy the wonderful relationship we have with 2nd Brigade," commented Lakewood Mayor Don Anderson. "These connections only make us stronger and more able to support each other."

From events like the Lakewood SummerFest and holiday observances to meetings with the Lakewood officials, its Chamber of Commerce and school officials, soldiers and civilians work together to better the community.

"The Lancer Brigade is honored to participate and engage with Lakewood through America's First Corps Community Connector Program," concluded Munson.

This sentiment is indicative of the degree of connection felt by all communities in the surrounding area.

Listed below are the cities and the military units that are a part of the Community Connector Program.

Auburn, 189th Infantry Brigade, DuPont, 6th Military Police - Criminal Investigation Division

Ellensburg/Yakima, Yakima Training Center

Gig Harbor, 201st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade

Lacey, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

Lakewood, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

Nisqually Indian Tribe, JBLM Headquarters

Olympia, 7th Infantry Division

Orting/Rainier, 62nd Medical Brigade

Parkland/Spanaway, 2nd Infantry Division Artillery

Puyallup, 42nd Military Police Brigade

Roy, 555th Engineer Brigade

Seattle, I Corps

Steilacoom, 42nd Military Police Brigade

Sumner, 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

Tacoma, 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command

Tumwater, 17th Field Artillery Brigade

University Place, Combat Aviation Brigade

Yelm, 1st Special Forces Group

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