The Many Ways and Reasons to Support Our Military Community

A large portion of what makes the Space Coast unique is our large military presence. This thrust our community into the national spotlight this past year as we competed against several other worthy contenders to become home to U.S. Space Command. Part of piecing together that competitive package was implicitly demonstrating our community’s support for the Air Force and Space Force. 

This includes assuring that service members live in a welcoming community with access to a banner school system, affordable childcare and jobs for spouses. While the Space Coast ultimately was not selected, being a top-six finalist further proves the Space Coast’s commitment to our airmen and Space Force guardians. 

This year, I was thrilled to accept an invitation from the Secretary of the Air Force to become one of 14 new Air and Space Force Civic Leaders. We are liaisons between communities and the Department of the Air Force. We understand both the priorities and needs of the Air Force and Space Force and the communities where airmen, guardians and their families live and work. 

We provide ideas and feedback to advise the Secretary of the Air Force, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Chief of Space Operations, and Air and Space Forces senior leaders about how missions can best be accomplished in their respective areas and about public attitudes toward the Air Force. 

Since being onboarded, I have learned so much about the missions being carried out here, and just how critical it is for the community to rally around service members and their families. 

With over 3,500 active duty and reservists, nearly 6,000 dependents and a whopping 65,000-plus veterans in this county, civilian support is critical. I urge our citizens to keep the sacrifices of the military family top-of-mind. Thank not only our military for their service, but their family members, too. 

Invite them to your churches and extracurricular activities, help them transition from active duty to Brevard’s workforce by inviting them to work for your company, and continue to advocate for the issues that affect our local economy and quality of life.

I attended a recent retirement ceremony, as I often do, in support of one of our local airmen who is separating in January. As I listened to him hold back tears in talking about all the times he had to leave his family, it filled my heart with gratitude. 

These men and women are our neighbors, ensuring we don’t have to make those same sacrifices so our lives can go on as normal. To our active duty and veterans everywhere, thank you.

The views in this article are my own and do not reflect the Department of the Air Force.