The Base Community Council at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, is an organization where base and community leaders partner together to build strong working relationships and mutual support.
“BCC works in sync with Whiteman’s leadership to support the mission by engaging with the communities that surround the base,” said Karl Kramer, the BCC president. “The support we give to the base helps improve the quality of life for Team Whiteman and ultimately improves the execution of the mission.”
Whiteman’s BCC is comprised of 18 different communities surrounding the installation, each of which is partnered with a different squadron at Whiteman. Together, they participate in different community or unit events throughout the year.
“The community engagement is great in this program,” said Kramer. “Communities offer the Airmen and families opportunities to enjoy different events they hold, and the community members also are able to engage in several events on base.”
Every month, Whiteman hosts a luncheon featuring a different community and their corresponding squadron. Each luncheon also features a guest speaker, usually a military or civilian leader, to further inform communities about the mission at Whiteman.
In addition to supporting monthly luncheons, the BCC also organizes programs to help welcome and support Airmen. “The BCC provided me a chance to go home during the holidays,” said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Riley Fulton, a medical logistics technician assigned to the 509th Medical Group. “The opportunity meant a lot to me. I got to spend time with my family and show my love and appreciation for them while being home. I will cherish the experience forever.”
The programs the BCC provides Whiteman are designed to benefit Airmen, increasing productivity on the base.
“Our efforts support Airmen with activities on and off base, which allows them to separate physically and mentally from their day-to-day work,” said Kramer. “Programs like Adopt an Airman and Airmen Home for the Holidays offer great experiences and support the care and wellbeing of Airmen, allowing them to come back to work recharged and ready to accomplish Whiteman’s mission.”
For many years, this program has served Team Whiteman positively by actively engaging Airmen and families with the surrounding communities and allowing the community members a chance to understand Whiteman’s mission of strategic deterrence, global strike and combat support ... anytime, anywhere.