Columbia cementing ties to Fort Jackson

article from The State Newspaper by Chuck Crumbo

 

When Army chief Gen. George Casey arrived in Columbia recently, he received a welcome worthy of his four-star rank.

Still mending from tendon surgery on his left leg, Casey hobbled on crutches through a crowd of 300 business, state and community leaders gathered at a reception in his honor. And, Mayor Bob Coble presented Casey with a key to the city.

Impressed by the gathering, Casey thanked the crowd and mentioned the reception the next day at Fort Jackson as he wrapped up his two-day visit.

 

“I want to thank the people of Columbia for the support they give to the soldiers and their families,” Casey said.

The relationship between Fort Jackson and Columbia dates back to World War I when business and city leaders came up with land where the Army could train troops. But it is still growing closer for a couple of reasons:

 

• The community’s growing support for troops fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

• The realization that being friendly with Fort Jackson is good for business

 

The post, where a third of the Army’s soldiers receive basic training, generates an annual economic impact of $2.3 billion in the Midlands.

 

Fort Jackson’s role as an economic engine became evident in 2005 when the Defense Department looked at what bases to close as a way to save money and consolidate resources.

 

Although Fort Jackson survived the round of base closings and even picked up more missions, local leaders — wary that another round could be coming in 2014 — decided they needed to further strengthen ties to the Army and Fort Jackson.

 

This summer, the city and Fort Jackson celebrated the first anniversary of a covenant that put on paper the community’s commitment to work with the Army and care for the troops.

 

Ike McLeese, president of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, said taking care of the soldiers and their families should be a top priority, regardless of the post’s impact on the economy.

 

“It’s an expression of our appreciation for the Army being located here,” McLeese said.

 

Small things count in building relationships with the Army, McLeese said. For example, he encourages chamber members to pick up the tab when they see a soldier dining in a restaurant, and he recruits businesses to offer troops and their families “military” discounts for their goods and services.

 

On a larger scale, the chamber has created a database of jobs available to troops’ dependents and retiring soldiers. About 4,000 soldiers assigned to Fort Jackson and their 14,000 family members live in the area.

 

The chamber also has worked with the state Department of Mental Health to put together a task force aimed at letting soldiers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or mild brain injuries know about mental health services available locally.

 

“We try not to let anybody fall through the cracks,” McLeese said.

 

Chamber efforts also led to the United Service Organization’s recent announcement that it will open a lounge at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport.

 

Working with the airport commission, the chamber opened a 1,200-square-foot room on the airport concourse for troops waiting to catch a flight and signed up volunteers to staff the lounge.

 

Then it recruited the USO to Columbia, organizing a meeting with some of the nonprofit agency’s officials. Chamber leaders thought maybe a dozen people would show up to express their support for a lounge. Instead, more than 60 were present.

The turnout impressed executives of the USO, who accelerated their plans and will take over the lounge in October, McLeese said. The USO manages facilities where troops can relax at more than 140 locations in the United States and overseas.

 

Casey, who made a point of stopping by the airport lounge on his way back to the Pentagon, said the city’s and chamber’s efforts could help keep Fort Jackson here if another round of base closings comes up.

 

“It will be a consideration, but it won’t be the consideration,” Casey said.

 

Regardless, Coble said it behooves the community to continue working on strengthening its ties the Army.

 

“It’s very important to develop these personal relationships,” Coble said. “You have to do it everyday.”

 

Reach Crumbo at (803) 771-8503.