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Prominently displayed before the front entrance of MB Aerospace in East Granby, Connecticut is a precast concrete sign that reads, “We Support Our Troops”. Below those words are five military service seals, representing each branch of the United States Military.
The sign represents more than kind sentiments toward the men and women who serve in the U.S. military. It symbolizes the longstanding partnership that military members, particularly those serving in the Connecticut Air National Guard, have with organizations in the local community. According to Bill Moeller, General Manager, MB Aerospace East Granby, the partnership between the military and the community, which is maintained through mutual support, is essential.
“It is extremely important, in my opinion to have a connection with local military units,” said Moeller. “We at MB Aerospace East Granby are willing to assist the CT Air National Guard however we can. As a military retiree and business executive, I believe it is important that members of the Guard are active members of the community.”
Through the Airman and Family Readiness Center and Psychological Health, members of the 103rd Airlift Wing gain access to many of the resources that are provided by local organizations. “Resilience Grows Here (RGH)”, which is a community-based initiative focused on mental health of veterans and their families, recently coordinated with 103rd AW Psychological Health to host a sausage sizzle at Bradley Air National Guard Base. The event featured stations where service members would go and participate in question and answer sessions related to resilience. While service members were able to gain knowledge about mental health free of charge, RGH was able to collect data that will aid in the development of future mental health programs for residents of the local community.
Kasey Timberlake, 103rd Airlift Wing Airman and Family Readiness Program Manager, thinks that being able to facilitate connections between the military and organizations in the community is what makes the Airman and Family Readiness Center an effective resource.
“The purpose of the Airman and Family Readiness Center is to provide a place and a resource for Airmen and their families to come if they’re having issues, questions, or trouble navigating military life,” said Timberlake, a military spouse who has worked in Airman and Family Readiness since 2008. “I think partnering with the community is inherent to the Airman and Family Readiness Center being successful as a resource. If our Airmen are struggling or if they want to be more involved in the community, they
know what’s out there. It’s important to our service members that we partner with the
community.”
Members of the Air National Guard, heavily credentialed with skills that they have learned in the military, often become valuable employees of local companies. At MB Aerospace, employees who are military veterans and those who are actively serving, are held in high regard.
“We have 25 members on staff who are veterans”, said Moeller. We also have a current active drilling Air Guard member on our staff. I have always found that former military members, active or reserve, come with a value set and work ethic that fits in well with the aerospace and manufacturing industry. We are proud of our current member who is an active Guardsman.”
According to Kasey Timberlake, the relationship between the military and the community is one that is interdependent and enduring.
“It’s a symbiotic relationship,” said Timberlake. “The more local organizations help us, the more we can help them and vice versa.”
| Date Taken: | 01.02.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 01.03.2018 12:36 |
| Story ID: | 261236 |
| Location: | EAST GRANBY, CT, US |
| Hometown: | EAST GRANBY, CT, US |
| Hometown: | HARTFORD, CT, US |
| Web Views: | 58 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The Military-Community Partnership, by MSgt Tamara Dabney, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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