South Georgia Named 2018 ‘Great American Defense Community’

Washington, D.C. – The South Georgia 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 Greater Fort Knox region in Kentucky; the San Diego region; 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.
 
 
About Great American Defense Communities
The Great American Defense Communities initiative was launched in 2015 in association with the Defense Communities Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
 
The inaugural class, honored in 2016, included Colorado Springs, Colo.; the Dayton, Ohio, region; the Eglin-Hurlburt, Fla., community; the Flint Hills, Kan., region; the Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., region; Grand Forks, N.D.; Lawton, Okla.; Monterey, Calif.; and South Puget Sound, Wash.
 
The 2017 class included the Alamo – San Antonio, Texas, region; the Charleston, S.C., region; Christian Co., Ky.; the Fort Hood – Central Texas region; Goldsboro, N.C.; the Hampton Roads, Va., region; Sierra Vista, Ariz.; the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments; and West Valley Partners in Arizona.
 
 
About ADC
ADC builds resilient communities that support America’s military. It is the connection point for leaders from communities, states, the military and industry on community-military issues and installation management to enhance knowledge, information sharing and best practices. With nearly 300 communities, states, regions, and affiliated industry organizations, ADC represents every major defense community/state in the nation.
www.defensecommunities.org
@defensecomm
 
About USAA 
The USAA family of companies provides insurance, banking, investments, retirement products and advice to 12.3 million current and former members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength. USAA membership is open to all who are serving our nation in the U.S. military or have received a discharge type of Honorable – and their eligible family members. Founded in 1922, USAA is headquartered in San Antonio. For more information about USAA, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@USAA), or visit usaa.com.