Free Essay

Military Influence

In:

Submitted By chaundraserena
Words 1176
Pages 5
How Military Presence Influences the Beaufort Community
Chaundra S. Buchanan
COMM/215
November 24, 2014
Ms. Amanda Mc Clure

How Military Presence Influences the Beaufort Community Beaufort, located in the southern-most tip of the state, is in the heart of South Carolina’s “Lowcountry,” a conglomeration of islands and coastal lands anchored by vast marshes and dense forests. As a Veteran, I’ve come to understand the impact military installations have on the community. The military footprint in South Carolina is significant and is the largest economic sector in the Lowcountry. Therefore, it is important to foster a continued military presence by creating a supportive environment and by attracting advanced military technologies. There are 3 major military installations in Beaufort that provide a solid economic underpinning. These include the Marine Corps Air Station, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, and the Naval Hospital. The salaries paid to over eight-thousand military and civilian employees at the installations and Department of Defense school systems ripple through the economy, which help keep local business owners and service providers open within our community. Our active duty military members, along with their dependents, donate thousands of volunteer hours in efforts to maintain our beautiful saltwater marshes and public highways. Beaufort’s military bases employ thousands of jobs directly and indirectly related to base operations and pump millions of dollars into the local economy. As a result, downturns do not hit the community as hard as other similarly sized communities. This also means families within our community do not have to stress over the financial burdens that come with residing in so many other areas during season changes. Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is currently housing and maintaining six of their F/A-18 Hornet strike fighter squadrons and two Navy fighter units, known as the Fightertown community, which deploy to global hotspots in other countries to support flight and ground operations. Beaufort’s Hornet squadrons rotate overseas regularly, either for deployments to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, for six month Western Pacific deployments or aboard Navy aircraft carriers. Beaufort’s Air Station will be the Marine Corps only training center for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, creating a vast amount of specialized equipment maintenance and generating additional employment opportunities to the many retired and prior service members within the community. In addition, the Naval Hospital “provides general medical, surgical, and emergency services to all Active Duty navy and Marine personnel, as well as retired military personnel and all military dependents residing in the area, a total population of approximately 35,000 beneficiaries” (www.beaufortsc.org/military/Naval-Hospital-Beaufort/). “In Beaufort, the Marine Corps Air Station supports 8,544 jobs and produces $702 million in annual economic development and Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island has 5,307 jobs and $594 million in economic impact. The Naval Hospital in Port Royal contributes another 1,591 jobs and $167 million in economic impact. Defense contractors added another 5,800 jobs and account for about 2 percent of the gross state product each year. Pension payments to the states 56,000 military retirees total $1.3 billion a year in economic impact” (http://cqrcengage.com/nysasbo/app/document/1716797;jsessionid=iwv3zmoKTfk8ywDVc9dApTEC.undefined). Provided with this information, you can see how the military presence impacts the Beaufort community directly, along with the indirect economic impacts provided throughout the state of South Carolina. Our 3 military bases play vital, unique and efficient roles in our nation’s defense. “From training new Marines at Parris Island to soon training new F-35 fighter pilots at Marine Corps Air Station—Beaufort, our facilities are key to a safe future for America” (www.beaufortchamber.org). South Carolina considers itself one of the most military-friendly states in the nation. However, “the Palmetto State has only embraced half of the 10 legislative initiatives that the U.S. Department of Defense uses to measure quality of life for active duty service members, veterans and retirees. That deficiency could have a big impact on an industry that pumps $15.7 billion into the state’s economy each year, because the list could be used when the next round of base closings and realignments is considered, perhaps as soon as next year” (http://cqrcengage.com/nysasbo/app/document/1716797;jsessionid=iwv3zmoKTfk8ywDVc9dApTEC.undefined ). South Carolina’s aerospace cluster has been a major contributor to the state’s economic growth over the past decade and has been a key factor in South Carolina’s recovery from the Great Recession. “The total estimated state revenue that results from the activities of the aerospace cluster in South Carolina is approximately $532 million annually. Thus, the aerospace cluster not only benefits South Carolinians directly by providing high-paying jobs and indirectly by furthering overall statewide economic growth, but it also provides benefits to the state as a whole through the increased tax revenue that is derived from this economic activity” (www.newcarolina.org/UserFiles/publications/DOR_Aerospace_Econ_Impact_Final2.pdf). Although the Beaufort community seems to feel as though the presence of so many military personnel creates a younger and more diverse atmosphere than in some comparable communities, there are some concerns by residents on varying negative impacts created by military installations within the area. In a recent public survey, “nearly 73% of respondents stated that they experienced jet or aircraft noise at least weekly from operations at MCAS Beaufort and 43% experienced gunfire or other noise on a weekly basis from MCAS or the Recruit Depot” (http://www.lowcountry-jlus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Survey-Results_Final_09262014.pdf). Even so, over half of the residents participating in the survey noted that they either did not experience noise impacts or they noticed the noise, but did not find it disruptive. A great deal of individuals residing within the area routinely expresses concerns with the military installations having a negative impact on property values. However, “more than 75% of the survey respondents believe the local community must take action to ensure that the economic contributions of the installations are sustained and enhanced” (http://www.lowcountry-jlus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Survey-Results_Final_09262014.pdf). In conclusion, it is important to foster a continued military presence by creating a supportive environment and by attracting advanced military technologies. Today, Beaufort is home to thousands of service members and contracted base employees that create a year round robust economy. “It’s easy to see why, next to tourism, the military is the major industry of Beaufort and residents enjoy a warm and comfortable relationship with their military neighbors and visitors” (www.beaufortchamber.org). We must stand behind our troops and inform others as to what the military presence means to the Lowcountry community. It means we need to work to protect our nation’s military in the same way they continue to work towards protecting our freedoms.

References:
(www.beaufortsc.org/military/Naval-Hospital-Beaufort/) (2014).
(www.beaufortchamber.org) (2014).
(http://cqrcengage.com/nysasbo/app/document/1716797;jsessionid=iwv3zmoKTfk8ywDVc9dApTEC.undefined) (2014).
(www.newcarolina.org/UserFiles/publications/DOR_Aerospace_Econ_Impact_Final2.pdf) (2014).
Public Survey Results, September 26, 2014. http://www.lowcountry-jlus.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Survey-Results_Final_09262014.pdf) (2014).

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Media Influence On The Military

...than a Thousand Bayonets.” The military – media relations have been characterized by mutual suspicion, disagreement and competing objectives (Carlos, 2003). This is because the military adopt the principle of secrecy for execution of its operations as opposed to that of openness adopted by the media. The military conducts its operations in a manner that offers the best conditions of security for personnel, equipment and the aim of the operation. On the other hand, the media considers it a duty to inform the public about events as and when they unfold without any imposed restraint, especially during conflict. However, the nature of modern warfare has necessitated that the media and military compliments each other’s roles in order to build a virile nation. This is because, the influence of media on military operations is invaluable. The media has the capacity to influence the conduct of hostilities, particularly through its impact on popular sentiment. In order to maximize the effects of media on military operations, commanders must grant unrestricted access to journalists during operations without jeopardizing the operational plan. This will not only encourage team bonding between the media and military, but...

Words: 1416 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Diversity

...interactions with others, and the degree of diversity within the organization. (Merchant, 2011). Performance levels are often increased by diversity. By observing organizational behavior, one can observe the positive influences, and study why they are occurring. This area of organizational behavior interests me very much because I work in the Air Force. I am currently stationed in Oklahoma, but am originally from New York. As a Recruiter I have seen firsthand diversity in the young individuals that are recruited. Before Recruiting duty I worked in the Medical Support Squadron, working with Airmen from all across the United States and also some foreign nationals. In the military, you must work well with others, and have a mutual respect for one another. Whether you work in the civilian side, or the military side, you must follow the same set of rules within the organization. Offices and different workplaces have been very diverse, to include people from many different backgrounds, jobs, and experiences. It is very interesting how much organizational behavior can affect the workplace. In the military, organizational behavior is important because the military is a very structured environment. Everyone must work together towards a common goal, and keep a positive attitude. The military can be difficult to work in, but the people in the environment are very dedicated, and definite trends exist in organizational...

Words: 327 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Organisational Culture and Learning: a Case Study Elaine Bell ⁎ Women and Children's Health Network, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

...A case study approach was used. The single case being a Defence School of Health Care Studies (DSHCS) and the multiple units of analysis: student nurses, the lecturers and Student Standing Orders. An in depth three dimensional picture was achieved using multiple data collection methods: interview, survey, observation and document analysis. Findings: The findings suggest that the DSHCS is perceived to be a sub-culture within a dominant civilian learning culture. Generally, the students and staff believed that the DSHCS is an excellent learning environment and that the defence students overall are high achievers. The common themes that appeared from the data were image, ethos, environment, discipline, support, welfare and a civilian versus military way of thinking. Conclusion: The learning experience of defence student nurses is very positive and enhanced by the positive learning culture of the civilian Higher Educational Institution. The factors influencing a positive learning experience that can be impacted by the overarching culture are discipline, image, ethos of adult learning, support and welfare. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Article history: Accepted 19 February 2013 Keywords: Learning Student Nurses Culture Introduction The Defence School of Health Care Studies (DSHCS) sits within a large civilian institution and the education offered is fully integrated...

Words: 5320 - Pages: 22

Free Essay

Mkdmkr

...fighting military in the U.S.? How or how not? How would a draft affect morale of soldiers? Looking at the soldier’s experience in Vietnam, how would a draft today affect soldiers both during and after a modern conflict? If the U.S. enacted the draft today, what would the American public response be? Would this have a positive or negative impact on the U.S. overall? If a draft were reinstated today, how might domestic issues in the U.S. be influenced? How would domestic issues such as the economy, political leadership and contemporary American culture influence foreign policy either with or without a draft? Is an all-volunteer military a more effective fighting force? Why or why not? Is it an American’s patriotic duty to serve in the military during their lifetime? Would a powerful, drafted military force enhance or impair U.S. foreign relations? According to the Selective Service Act, men ages 18 to 26 must register. Should women be required to register as well? Enacting a draft is the best solution for engage American youth in domestic and foreign politics. How do veterans contribute to American society upon their return, and are their contributions defined by whether they were drafted or volunteers? Does American media today accurately inform the public regarding military actions in other countries? Does the media have a responsibility to not only inform but analyze news and influence public...

Words: 364 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Command Leadership and Management

...Assignment Submission Declaration School of __________________________ | | Name: | <please leave blank> | | | Matriculation No: | 44081 | | | Title: | South China Sea: Recipe for War Between China and ASEAN? | | | Course and Code: | ADSP | | | Lecturer/Tutor: | A/P Bernard Loo | | | Submission Date: | 8 Apr 13 | | Keep a Copy of the Assignment Please make a copy of your work. If you have submitted your assignment electronically also make a backup copy. Plagiarism and Collusion Plagiarism: to use or pass off as one’s own, the writings or ideas of another without acknowledging or crediting the source from which the ideas are taken. Collusion: submitting an assignment, project or report completed by another person and passing it off as one’s own (as defined in the NTU Honour Code. See http://academicintegrity.ntu.edu.sg/). Penalties for Plagiarism and Collusion The penalties associated with plagiarism exist to reward good academic conduct; those who cheat will be severely punished to reflect the seriousness with which NTU views cheating, and its commitment to academic integrity. Penalties may include: the requirement to revise and resubmit an assignment, receiving a lower grade, or receiving an F grade for the assignment. DeclarationI declare that this assignment is my own work, unless otherwise referenced, as defined by the NTU policy on plagiarism. I have read the NTU Honour Code and Pledge. http://www.ntu.edu.sg/sao/Pages/HonourCode...

Words: 4630 - Pages: 19

Premium Essay

Russian Notes for History Sl

...Matheus Aug/1/2012 Russia Military Notes Russia’s army 1,200,000 (Brooman, Old Europe ) Advantages The third Largest military (Brooman, Old Europe) Had many to recruit, as they had the largest population of over 159 Million(Brooman, Old Europe) Disadvantages They couldn’t move around very effectively that even Germany had plans to attack France before the six weeks in which it would take for Russia to move their army from the east.(Duffy, firstworldwar) They were far from there allies making there supply demands more complicated Weakened by Japan (Smele, BBC) “Masurian Lakes, in 1914, Russia lost two entire armies (over 250,000 men).” (Smele, BBC) Peasants Lack of communication “Most corps did not have working telephones due to lack of wire and consequently received orders hours too late.” (Murphy, Russia Military) Influence The Russian army did not influence the population very well because the Russian military, something so far apart from what was the day-to-day reality, did not have enough “movement”. There was break out happening and Nicholas couldn’t do anything because The Russian military was also occupied on the east side, since there defeat with japan (Smele, BBC) Russia’s Navy 166 ships Coasts were bad Alliance - Britain and France 5th largest (24/7) Military now a days Sentences 1. The Russian army was the third largest army with 1...

Words: 671 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Ideological Disparities In The Military Essay

...Since 1775 the American military has been called upon to perform many tasks. From winning large global wars, to humanitarian missions, and to even mediating global politics the US military has risen to every occasion and fulfilled their role put forth in the Constitution. No other organization has such a stellar legacy, or track record of upholding American values or promoting American policies on the world stage. Americans have a proud military legacy which is now facing a crisis point. America is in jeopardy of destroying their proud military tradition as a result of three disastrous disparities that have developed from the current political climate of the past four decades. The military government relationship has severe divergences in ideology, experience, and demographics. The ideological disparity is a problem of ethics. The American...

Words: 1127 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Great Army Info

...decade-it's time our doctrine caught up." LTG Perkins, Commanding General, US Army Combined Arms Center, ARMY Magazine, March 2012. Created by: SAMANTHA S. SHIRLEY SGM, USA S-3 SGM, 86th ESB BLDG 21100, Room 3117 FT Bliss, TX 79918 COM: 915.741.4866 DSN: 312.711.4866 BB: 520.508.8370 NIPR: samantha.s.shirley.mil@mail.mil AKO: samantha.shirley@us.army.mil The NCO Creed No one is more professional than I. I am a Noncommissioned Officer, a leader of Soldiers. As a Noncommissioned Officer, I realize that I am a member of a time-honored corps, which is known as “The Backbone of the Army”. I am proud of the Corps of Noncommissioned Officers and will at all times conduct myself so as to bring credit upon the Corps, the Military Service and my country regardless of the situation in which I find myself. I will not use my grade or position to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety. Competence is my watchword. My two basic responsibilities will always be uppermost in my...

Words: 8961 - Pages: 36

Free Essay

To What Extent Are the United States Still the Global Superpower

...when trying to define a ‘superpower’ in the context of a country. The way I would like to define it is ‘the country which has the capacity to dominate power and influence global proceedings with almost global hegemony’. For ease of understanding, it’s best to measure global dominance in four separate and distinct categories or ‘axis of power’. The first is military power which is relatively easy to quantify. This includes not only members of the military, paramilitary and reserved forces but also the willingness to use them. If a country has a large military but is not prepared to use them, it’d be hard to justify them as a leading military force. The second is economic, which once again, we can justify purely by looking at the stats of leading countries. The facts and figures which are of most interest to me are Gross Domestic Product (GDP), GDP per capita, national debt and trade deficit. The third is political power- which is now much more theoretical, however, there are some ways to quantify it such as looking at voting patterns in the UN and by looking at the number of alliances each country has. Also, we have to look at public opinions on potential superpowers as political pressure comes from those who have voted- they will want to see their country aligned to whoever they see as having the largest positive influence onto world affairs. The last type is the hardest...

Words: 376 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Security In Iraq By David Gompert: A Book Review

...The reason I chose this book to review is because I honestly had no idea what exactly is going on in Iraq. I know that the U.S. military has been there for quite some time and I know at one point there was a lot of controversy on whether to withdraw troops or not. This book seemed like it would give me insight on the situation within Iraq and why the U.S. is still in the Middle East. Security in Iraq, A Framework for Analyzing Emerging Threats as U.S. Forces Leave, is another RAND book written by David C. Gompert, Terrence K. Kelly and Jessica Watkins. First off, I would like to point out that this book was published in 2010 and therefore ISIS and other current groups did not play any key factors in their analysis of the security of Iraq....

Words: 1456 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Effective Leaders

...The Sanctions Debate and the Logic of Choice David A. Baldwin debate over whether economic sanctions "work" is mired in a scholarly limbo. One writer contends that recent international relations scholarship has promoted optimism about the utility of such measures and sets out to challenge this trend} while another notes the pessimism that "pervades the sanctions literature" and proceeds to argue that it is unjustified. 2 A third scholar cites the sanctions literature as an example of fruitless academic debate with little policy relevance.3 Such divergent readings of the scholarly literature are often explained by differences in ideology or fundamentally different theoretical orientations. This does not seem to be the case with respect to the sanctions debate. Under appropriate circumstances, it is quite possible for liberals, neoliberals, realists, neorealists, or globalists to argue in favor of using economic sanctions. If the sanctions debate is bogged down, the explanation does not seem to lie in the essentially contested nature of the subject matter. A second potential explanation is that scholars are talking past one another because they ask different questions, use different concepts, and set the discussion in different analytical contexts. In short, they are talking about different things. This article explores the second explanation. The basic paradox at the heart of the sanctions debate is that policymakers continue to use sanctions with increasing...

Words: 12612 - Pages: 51

Premium Essay

Five Functions of Management

...and motivation theories as it relates to the Army. The Army’s organizational structure can be complex to those who aren’t familiar with the military. The Army consists of numbered armies, corps, divisions, brigades, and battalions that conduct full spectrum operations around the world.” (Department of Defense 2012). Those units report to the Department of Defense through a chain of command. The units within the Army have front line managers (Troop Commanders), middle managers (Division Commanders), and top managers (Commanding Generals). These managerial levels are comprised of Army officers. The enlisted leadership is comprised of line managers and staff managers. The President is the Commander-and-Chief of the armed forces, otherwise known as the President. His top-level management team consists of the Vice-President, the Chief of Staff, and the Secretary of Defense. The Army is a mechanistic organization combined with a Professional Bureaucracy structure and a Matrix Departmentalization strategy. Professional Bureaucracy applies to the Army in respect that it relies on soldiers and leaders to be proficient in their profession. The rules and procedures are governed and outlined in Army regulations. There are regulations for every area associated with the Army from: military occupation specialty (MOS), every military...

Words: 1774 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Sexual Harrasment in the Military

...Sexual Harassment In The Military Specialist Edward J. Nofe Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 18th Military Police Brigade Grafenwoehr, Germany January 5, 2015 Joni Ernst is a well-respected United State Senator from Iowa. She has served more than 20 years in uniform. She is the first female combat veteran to serve in the Senate. She along with countless men and women in the military has been a victim of sexual harassment. The truth is nobody is immune from this problem certainly not when you still have reports ranging from inappropriate advances to sexual bribery. Sexual harassment is a form of gender discrimination that involves unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature between the same or opposite genders. Harassment differentiates from assault in the sense that harassment can be directly associated with your work setting. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination that erodes morale and negatively impacts unit cohesion. All individuals in the unit must be treated fairly and with mutual respect .The consequences of sexual harassment affects the individual in the workplace through stress, physical fitness, and reenlistment intentions. Sexual harassment affects the unit’s effectiveness, cohesion and goal realization. Sexual harassment is not limited to the workplace, but can also occur in the work related environment. That’s why the importance of maintaining a secure and sound command climate...

Words: 1472 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Essay On Mandatory Military Spending

...Opting for the Military (revise) In the American culture, value is often dictated through the money one has and the possessions one owns. There is a constant goal to have more. The more things you have, the more you are worth, and the more you can rest safe and assured that you are doing well. Like a bubble, your infinitive collection of things acts as a safety net. Perhaps this mindset contributes to the lack of equivalence in the discretionary spending of the national budget. Money is aimed towards excessive military efforts, which could provide a sense of stability and protection for the American people as the military is given money and remains heavily stocked and prepared for battle. The national budget is a distribution of money from the government to various publicly funded areas such as international affairs, veterans’ benefits, social security, and other areas like Medicare and health or even the government itself. The federal spending is broken down into mandatory spending, discretionary spending, and money from interest on debt. Mandatory spending is not regulated like a typical budget, and is instead derived from...

Words: 1948 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Carnage and Culture

...Hanson’s Theory Of The Western Way of War The novel Carnage and Culture written by Victor Davis Hanson whom is a military historian and professor at California State University gives a new perspective on why the West always wins their wars. Hanson states his theory that the West always wins their fights because of the influence of their culture. He continues to explain this theory of the Western way of war with a coherent argument. Although Hanson uses examples of battles in which do not quite fit his argument, the background of the nine battles he uses support his claim; thus, making his theory agreeable overall. Furthermore, the title Carnage and Culture best illustrates Hanson’s theory on the western culture. The reason being why the west always wins their wars is due to the culture- “The Western Way of War”. This culture follows with characteristics in which represent the West: being freedom, individualism, civic militarism, superior weapons, organization, discipline, morale, initiative, flexibility, and command. All of these characteristics are shown through the West in the battles fought against the Non-West. Hanson talks about nine different battles in which helps back up his theory. Western warfare, a common foundation and continual way of fighting, that has made Europeans the most deadly soldiers in the history of civilization. With this being said, Hanson believed that with the western culture, the armies produce better quality arms and soldiers. Culture being...

Words: 1298 - Pages: 6