Washington, D.C. (Nov. 29, 2017) – The Greater Fort Knox Region is one of five communities across the country named to the 2018 class of Great American Defense Communities, the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) announced with USAA, the initiative’s official sponsor.
The Great American Defense Communities, now in its third year, recognizes military communities and regions that help improve the quality of life for service members and military families.
The 2018 class also includes Chesapeake Science & Security Corridor, near Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland; the San Diego region; the South Georgia region, home to Moody Air Force Base; and Tampa Bay, Fla.
“The men and women who serve our nation deserve our full support whether they are on a mission abroad or on duty at an installation closer to home,” ADC President Bill Parry said. “Communities have found many ways to show service families that they are welcome on both sides of the installation fence, and the Great American Defense Communities program has quickly become an important way to highlight their successes.”
The Great American Defense Communities program is designed to recognize the overall support that communities and regions in the U.S. provide to service members and military families. Communities are chosen through a competitive nomination process based on community building and integration, support and collaboration, educational and employment opportunities, and family support.
“This year’s Great American Defense Communities highlights how important it is to take care of our military communities,” said John Bird, retired Navy vice admiral and senior vice president of Military Affairs at USAA. “As the official sponsor of the Great American Defense Communities program, we are pleased to help recognize these communities’ strong support for the military families they serve, including defending the missions assigned and advocating for additional missions for their region or community.”
Defense communities and regions that are home to active military installations are eligible to apply each year. This year’s selected communities will be honored throughout the year, including at the Defense Communities National Summit in Washington, D.C., in June 2018.
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