The Greater Killeen area has a long tradition of supporting the men and women of our armed forces and their families. The Military Relations Council’s (MRC) goals are to promote the sustainability of Fort Hood and to make the fence between the post and the surrounding community as invisible as possible.
This is accomplished by building strong relationships between Fort Hood, the U.S. Army and the community. The MRC does this by providing information, networking and access to Fort Hood and the community, locally and across the United States.
Information
Fort Hood is a primary economic stimulator in the Central Texas region. Because of this, it is important to arm Chamber Investors, our strategic partners and the public with information to allow them to function as informed representatives in Killeen, Austin
and Washington DC. Examples of MRC activities that helped accomplish this goal during the last year include:
- Tours of the new Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and the new AAFES PX
- Fort Hood Garrison Command update on their operations, current conditions and future plans
- Assistance in planning and execution of the Chamber’s bi-annual Legislative Tour, a program that invites state legislative representatives and staff from Austin to tour Fort Hood and the Killeen community
- An interactive tour of the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, Calif.
- Senior Command Teams Welcome
- Distribution of monthly electronic MRC Newsletters providing time sensitive information
- MRC representation at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) & Association of Defense Communities (ADC) to build relationships with other military communities, armed forces representatives and legislatures
Networking
Throughout the year, the MRC participates in several events to build relationships with the Soldiers and Families of Fort Hood, such as Audie Murphy Inductions, NCO & Soldier of the Year Awards, Hails, Farewells, Retirements and AUSA events. During many of these events the MRC is able to participate in the awards presentations. In addition, the MRC organizes an annual social for General Offi cers and Command Sargent Majors, a Senior Command Team Welcome, and a National Training Center Observation Tour of Force on Force Activities.
Our community does an exceptional job networking and building relationships with the General Offi cers and Command Sargent Majors. However, these individuals rarely return to serve at Fort Hood. In an eff ort to begin building relationships with soldiers
who will return to Fort Hood, in fall of 2014 the MRC held their fi rst Senior Command Team Welcome. This social is held in coordination with the New Command Team training and reaches out to those most likely to return to Fort Hood to serve in the future
— Command Teams from Battalions and above. The MRC will continue to explore events that engage Soldiers and Families with the local communities.
Most people living in the Killeen area are aware of what the U.S. Army does and have heard the ‘sound of Freedom’ booming when the troops are in the fi eld. The terms “deployment” and “redeployment” are common in local vocabulary. However, the
weight of these actions may not fully register for those who have not ever been Active Duty. The U.S. Army is looking for ways to educate the population on what it does and the costs associated with its activities. The Chamber is helping with this by hosting the newly added Interactive National Training Center Rotation 16-1 Tour at Ft. Irwin, Calif. The tours, which started in 2015, follow 1st Brigade, 1st Calvary Division during their force on force activities. The tour has allowed the Army to strategically reach outside the Front Gate and spread its message by educating local leaders through first-hand exposure to military training.
Access
The MRC allows Chamber Investors and local leaders access to Fort Hood, the Soldiers stationed there, and at other installations. In turn, this allows these same individuals access to the local community. To build strong relationships with Fort Hood we
must continue to build lasting relationships between Soldiers, Families and community members.
Thank you to our Military Relations Council sponsors:
- All American Chevrolet
- Fort Hood National Bank
- Management & Training Consultants, Inc. (MTCI)
- Union State Bank
- University of the Incarnate Word
For more information about the MRC and how your company can get involved, contact Heather Nusbaum, heather@killeenchamber.com.
Written by Heather Nusbaum, Vice President Finance & Administration, Greater Killeen Chamber of Commerce
Published in the Greater Killeen Business Quarterly 2015 Economic Outlook & Fort Hood Guide