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Area
leaders thanked for partnership
Salina,
Kan., (January 29, 2010) -
Salina City Manager Jason Gage and Salina Area Chamber of Commerce
President Dennis Lauver check out an OH-58 Kiowa as Salina Airport
Authority Executive Director Tim Rogers, A.A.E. discussed the aircraft with
a soldier, while on a tour at Ft. Riley, January 27.
Local leaders from the
Salina Airport Authority, City of Salina, Salina Area Chamber of Commerce
and others were guests of the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st
Infantry Division. The group got to
get up close and personal with some based aircraft, tried their hands at
piloting some of those aircrafts from the safety of a simulator and got a
look at the air traffic control tower.
The CAB is gearing up for a deployment to Iraq this March and has
been training in the Salina Area.
"We
support the CAB by our openness to allowing them to be a community partner
and how we assist them to grow and develop in our community,"
explained Gage. "They support
us through their positive economic impact and desire to commit both people
and services whenever needed."
The
trip reinforced to the Salina leaders the positive impact the military has
on the communities in the region through job creation, community
involvement and the development of young people. It also provided the military with the opportunity
to thank Salina officials for the support they have offered throughout
their training.
"We
use Salina as the example," said Lt. Col. Ken Chase, 1st
Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment commander. "When we're looking at training
venues we consider Salina the gold standard. I really can't thank Salina enough for
the opportunities afforded to us."
Chase
sited the Salina Municipal Airport's close proximity to the Smoky Hill
Weapons Range and assets at the Great Plains Joint Training Center along
with the accommodating community as just some of the reasons that make
Salina the training venue of choice.
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