Civic leaders meet for first-ever forum, share top military-support strategies

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C.- --  Twenty five civic leaders from 9th Air Force wings across the Southeastern United States will gather at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 14 to 15, 2012, for the first-ever 9th Air Force Civic Leader Forum.

The forum is designed to help civic attendees better understand Airmen's operational missions, and to provide them an opportunity to garner best practices from each other in supporting military communities.

The effort is modeled after First Lady Michelle Obama's "Joining Forces" initiative, which seeks to "mobilize all sectors of society to give our service members and their families the opportunities and support they have earned," according to the White House Web site, http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces.

"As a first for 9th Air Force, this effort brings together motivated civic leaders from four states to share their experiences of helping our Airmen. These are leaders within their communities, and we want to show them today's missions, challenges and military life," said Maj. Gen. Lawrence Wells, 9th Air Force commander. "It also allows these leaders to meet others from across the 9th Air Force command. It provides them an opportunity to show what their civic community is doing to support its local Airmen, bases and military missions. Our goal is simple: to take care of our Airmen and their families; this forum is a huge step forward in meeting our goal!"

As leaders in their respective communities, selected civic delegates will bring past experience in business, commerce, education and government affairs to the conference. Attendees will come from all seven of 9th Air Force's active-duty wings.

The 9th Air Force's active-duty wings include the 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.; the 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, S.C.; the 23rd Wing and 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing, Moody AFB, Ga.; the 461st Air Control Wing, Robins AFB, Ga.; and the 633rd Air Base Wing and 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.

Wings selected civic leaders to attend the forum based on their involvement in the community, and at each community's recommendation.

Representatives from Seymour Johnson are Ben Seegars, Julie Daniels, Jimmie Edmundson, Dr. Scott LaFevers, Henry and Kim Smith and Dr. Mike and Mrs. Frances Gooden.