Base, community leaders work in partnership for better opportunities

Base leaders and community partners discuss possible initiatives Dec. 12, 2017, on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, during an Air Force Community Partnership meeting. These gatherings help develop new and better ways to benefit the Air Force and the surrounding communities through emergency management, Airmen Against Drunk Driving, downtown shooting range use and more. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Keith Holcomb)

Base, community leaders work in partnership for better opportunities

Base leaders and community partners discuss possible initiatives Dec. 12, 2017, on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, during an Air Force Community Partnership meeting. Col. Douglas Gosney, 14th Flying Training Wing Commander, works with the community partners to create the initiatives. The meetings provide everyone with insight on the changes that have been discussed throughout the year, and propose and further review other ideas and research to make informed decisions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Keith Holcomb)

Base, community leaders work in partnership for better opportunities

Col. Douglas Gosney, 14th Flying Training Wing Commander, and Greg Lewis, Columbus-Lowndes Recreation Authority Director, sign a memorandum of understanding Dec. 12, 2017, on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. This MOU provides the framework for Columbus AFB youth between the ages of 11 to 18 years old to be able to participate in CLRA baseball leagues. This is often needed due to the small youth population on the base. This was one of 16 areas explored during the Air Force Community Partnership meeting. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Keith Holcomb)

Base, community leaders work in partnership for better opportunities

Published Dec. 13, 2017
By Airman 1st Class Keith Holcomb
14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Columbus Air Force Base senior leaders and Columbus and Lowndes County community partnership members gathered here Dec. 12 for an Air Force Community Partnership quarterly meeting.

One focus of the meeting was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between Columbus AFB and Columbus Lowndes Recreation Authority to address the issue of community and Columbus AFB baseball leagues being unable to fill full rosters.

“The whole purpose of the new initiative we signed today was to create teams for kids who don’t have a full roster,” said Maj. Mark Hancock, 14th Flying Training Wing Director of Staff. “The point is not to take any sports away from Columbus AFB, but to add to teams who are short players.”

The community partnership events allow city and base members to discuss programs and initiatives that strengthen the communities around Air Force bases.

“We are here looking for solutions to problems,” said Lt. Col. Nathaniel Miller, Air Force Community Partnership Director.

After signing the MOU, there was an open workshop between base leadership and community partners about the specific initiatives they were in charge of.

Several base leaders provided an update on initiatives such as Maj. Eric Eaton, 14th Security Forces Squadron Commander, who spoke about regulations to help the firing range on base. Lt. Col. David Jokinen, 14th Civil Engineer Squadron Commander, and one of Columbus AFB’s fire chiefs spoke with community partners about privatizing dorms and emergency planning initiatives. Col. Douglas Gosney, 14th Flying Training Wing Commander, spoke with community partners about ideas for progressing these initiatives past the local areas and different ways to improve past initiatives.

“These meetings are not supposed to be a one way street, it has to work both ways,” said Maj. Douglas Hickey, 14th Force Support Squadron Commander. “We just try to find common ground for the base and community to work together.”