Local group, Yuma 50, supports those that support our freedoms

Yuma has always been a “military town,” supportive of the two installations located here, welcoming to the personnel they bring to the community and accepting of the many veterans who choose to call it home.

But one organization is taking that support and welcome mat to a new level. Now in its second year, Yuma 50 was formed to serve as a permanent advocate and voice for the community’s military. A secondary mission is to integrate active duty military personnel into the community.

“Yuma 50 is a community outreach and education campaign bringing together a broad group of community and civic leaders, businesses, organizations, military support groups and private citizens (no previous military experience necessary) across all political affiliations,” states the organization’s website. “Yuma 50 wants to send a loud and clear message to Washington that this community is fully behind its military bases and personnel and supports all

future missions the Department of Defense deems best suited for Marine Corps Air Station Yuma and Yuma Proving Ground.”

At stake is the community’s second largest economic driver. Yuma’s military assets pump more than $1 billion into the local economy each year and provide tens of thousands of jobs -by itself, YPG is the largest single employer of civilians in Yuma County. They also have missions that are critical to national defense, one for training and the other for testing.

Protecting these two military assets from encroachment, base realignment and closures (BRAC) and the ongoing threat of government budget reductions and sequestration will be the priority of the Yuma 50 members, noted Yuma 50’s website.

Both bases boast positive two-way relations with local elected officials and community leaders who have banded together in the past whenever necessary to support the local installations, such as during the BRAC process that closed or reduced in size many installations around the nation during the late 1980s through the mid1990s, noted Chuck Wullenjohn, YPG public affairs officer.

Recently, local leaders decided to formalize the military support process by creating a permanent local organization, Yuma 50, much like those formed by many other communities around the state that have bases, he said.

“The commanders and personnel can’t openly oppose Congress,” said Julie Engel, chair of Yuma 50. “But they can share their concerns and issues with the group and we can be that voice.”

In fact, she said, “our primary mission is to be the voice for our bases before Congress.”

To that end, last year Ken Rosevear, former chairman of the Yuma 50, made two trips to Washington, D.C. with “some positive outputs,” Engel said. She added that the plan is to make two trips to the nation’s capitol each year as well as participate in meetings around the state that relate to the military.

In addition, Yuma 50 members would be ready to respond with phone calls, email messages, letters and even personal visits to congressmen when an issue comes up that is deemed negative to either YPG or MCAS.

To magnify its impact, Yuma 50 has joined forces with the Southern Arizona Defense Alliance, which has operated in Tucson and Sierra Vista for several years, Engel said.

“Our purpose is to pursue issues that support our bases and oppose those that are detrimental, whatever they may be,” Rosevear said.

Primary local lobbying efforts include the push to widen Highway 95 to YPG and support on-base projects at MCAS, Engel said.

She said there’s also plans to bring the Mesa Defense Alliance Council comprised of defense contractors who work out of Mesa to YPG to see the capabilities of the Army testing facility in hopes of attracting new job opportunities for it.

As for the organization’s second mission, Engel noted that the community has a number of groups for veterans. “We support them,” she said, but Yuma 50 is more focused on active duty military members to help them feel a welcome part of the community. For example, Yuma 50 held a tailgate party prior to the recent El Toro football game, providing games and festivities. And a number of tickets to the game were provided by the Caballeros de Yuma for active duty military and by the Yuma County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee for veterans.

“For a first-time event it was a huge success,” said Engel. “We hope to make it even better next year.”

In addition, Yuma 50 was represented in the Veterans Day parade with a large banner and passed out 500 flyers. The organization also held a reception for the new commanding officers for MCAS Yuma and YPG after they were installed last summer. And the group will take part in YPG’s upcoming 75th anniversary celebration.

“This is a call to action,” Engel said. “Become a member and we’ll put you to work right away.”

Concluded Col. David A. Suggs, commanding officer of MCAS Yuma: “The Yuma 50 has been great to work with. They have been a touchpoint between MCAS Yuma, local community leaders and state representatives on important issues impacting the community. As we start the New Year, I can only see an increase in communication and teamwork to ensure all stakeholders understand and are able to voice their concerns.”

Col. Ross C. Poppenberger, commanding officer of YPG, echoed his comments. “The Yuma 50 group is a pleasure to work with and has a great relationship with military leaders … it provides a link between military leaders and community leaders. I look forward to continuing to work with the group in the future.”

For further information on the Yuma 50 and to learn how to become a member, visit the organization’s website at: www. Yuma50.org.