Newsletter
February 17, 2015
For Immediate Release

Vitter Urges Defense Secretary Nominee to Support Fort Polk

(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator David Vitter (R-La.) yesterday met with Dr. Ashton Carter, President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Defense, to ask for his support in maintaining the Army's end strength at Fort Polk.


"Our Brigade Combat Team at Fort Polk and Global Strike Command at Barksdale are absolutely necessary to continue protecting our country," Vitter said. "As we continue to face increasing threats from terrorists abroad, I want to make sure Dr. Carter understands the role Louisiana plays in maintaining a strong national defense. He committed to working with me in support of the nuclear mission and advancing the plan to make Global Strike Command a 4-star position, so I will be supporting his nomination."


Dr. Carter's nomination passed out of the Armed Services Committee on Tuesday, and the Senate was expected to vote on the nomination today.


Vitter was also successful in securing a key provision in the NDAA to protect the Army's total troop levels against the Administration's attempts to reduce it at a faster pace. This will ultimately help sustain current troop levels at Fort Polk. The President's budget would speed up reductions to the Army's active duty end strength levels to well below stated minimum levels and well before the original intended date. Vitter's amendment ensures adequate steps to prevent unnecessary force structure reductions.


To read more, click here.


Concurrent Listening Sessions Multiply Support of Fort Polk


LEESVILLE, La.--To encourage as many people as possible to participate in the March 3 Listening Session with the Department of the Army concerning possible troop reductions at Fort Polk, Fort Polk Progress, the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce and the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance will conduct concurrent Listening Sessions in Leesville, Alexandria and Lake Charles.


The Alexandria and Lake Charles sessions will be streamed via the Internet to the Leesville Listening Session.


All three sessions will begin promptly at 6 p.m. on March 3 with doors opening early for seating. We encourage you to attend the session that is closest to you geographically and to arrive early and to be seated as soon as possible so that there is no delay in beginning the sessions.  If you would like to make a public comment, attendees at each session will make every effort to accommodate you. Please consider contacting the organizer for your location to make arrangements for your public comments beforehand.


The Alexandria Session will be conducted at the Convention Hall at Alexandria City Hall

915 Third Street, Alexandria, LA 71301. The Convention Hall has a capacity of 500.


Please call Deborah Randolph at 318-442-6671 for more details or click here to sign your group up to attend the Alexandria Session.


The Lake Charles Session will be conducted at the Lake Charles Civic Center, 2nd Floor Contraband Room, which has a capacity of approximately 300.Please call Avon Knowlton at 337-433-3632 or click here to sign your group up to attend the Lake Charles Session.


If you would like to sign up for the Leesville Session, please click here. Please call Tammy Sharp at 337-378-9329 with any concerns about the Leesville Session.


To discover more ways to help support the Listening Sessions, click here.


Donations Needed for Read Across America at South Polk Elementary


South Polk Elementary plans to celebrate Read Across America March 2-6, and organizers are inviting local businesses to help out. Organizers say they need pens, pencils, notepads, notebooks, or monetary donations that support reading and writing. If you or your business would like to participate, please contact Kennison at 337-718-1987.


To read more click here.


ICYMI: Ratcliff Celebrates Ribbon Cutting of UAV Training Facility for Fort Polk


Ratcliff Construction Company of Alexandria, LA. celebrated a ribbon cutting Tuesday, Jan. 13, of their latest project:  the Louisiana National Guard Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Facility at Fort Polk.


"We congratulate Ratcliff on the completion of the facility," said Fort Polk Progress Chairman Michael Reese. "The facility will go a long way in setting Fort Polk apart when it comes to UAV training."


To read more click here.

To view the latest Executive Insight Briefing, click here.

Fort Polk Progress is a regional community organization that takes a proactive stance toward Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) by maintaining relationships and partnering with decision makers in Congress, at the Pentagon and at the state level, ensuring that the most up to date information concerning Fort Polk and the surrounding communities is used in decisions concerning the base. In addition, Fort Polk Progress actively markets the base to the military as the most cost effective place to provide soldiers with the best training possible and strives to help ensure the best possible quality of life for soldiers, civilians and their families. Most recently, Fort Polk Progress has spear-headed an Education Initiative, which acknowledges exceptional educational achievements in the region and pursues continued excellence in education for military families throughout the region. 

 

For more information about Fort Polk Progress visit us on the web, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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