As a way to show our support for active military and our veterans, the Glendale Chamber of Commerce formed a Military & Veterans Affairs Committee. We plan to share our efforts with the community through a monthly communication.
Inaugural Military Induction Ceremony Held in Glendale
2017 Inaugural Induction Ceremony
The Glendale Chamber of Commerce Military & Veterans Affairs Committee and Glendale Mayor, Jerry Weiers presented the Inaugural Induction Ceremony on Friday, April 28th at the Calvary Community Church.  Nearly 600 attended the ceremony to induct over 150 high school seniors entering military service.
                
Jeff Turney, Chairman of the Military & Veterans Affairs Committee, was the emcee.  The official swearing in ceremony was officiated by U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Clukey.  The branches of service with inductions included the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.

Committee Leaders Attend New Jersey Induction Ceremony
Mayor Jerry Weiers, U.S. Army Major General Jeffrey Snow, Jeff Turney
Mayor Jerry Weiers and Jeff Turney attended the military induction ceremony in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.  They were invited to witness one of the longest running successful programs in the United States.  The knowledge from the event will help in our journey in making the the Glendale ceremony the best it can be. 
Air Force Association Frank Luke Chapter Annual Golf Tournament
Falcon Dunes was the site for the annual AFA Luke Chapter Golf Tournament on May 12th.  More than 120 golfers enjoyed the sunny seasonally warm day.  The major project of the AFA is the Wounded Airman Project.

The Glendale Chamber had a team in the tournament.  Harry Shapiro, Director of Investor Relations; George Thorne, George Thorne Consulting; Rob Cimato, Evers Insurance and Brian Gallegos, AmeriFirst Mortgage.  In the photo are AFA leaders Ed Logan at the podium and Harry Bailey presenting an award.  They are both members of the Military Veterans Affairs Committee.

Military and Veterans Success Center - West Valley

Remodeling has begun for the West Valley's Military and Veterans Success Center located just outside the Lightning Gate at Luke Air Force Base.  The facility is expected to have a soft opening in late July or early August with an official ribbon cutting in September.  Included in the facility will be three case manager offices and a conference room.  State of the art technology will be included in the lobby area, meeting rooms and conference room. There will also be a kid's area, with related technology to keep children entertained while their parents are meeting with case managers.


For more information contact Steve Yamamori at steve.yamamori@domail.maricopa.edu

U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Banquet
CSM Stoneburg, LTC Clukey and Phoenix West Company pose with Community Partners including Jeff Turney, Police Sergeant Glendale Police Department during the Banquet
Glendale Chamber President & CEO Robert Heidt, Military & Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Turney and Kari Sliva of the Mayor's Office along with Glendale area recruiters recently attended the United States Army Recruiting Battalion Annual Training Meeting Banquet.  Keynote speaker Command Sergeant Major Anthony Stoneburg spoke about personal instruction to company leadership and center leaders in recruiting processes and systems discipline.  

For more information on Army Recruiting contact Sgt. Nathan Estrada at nathan.n.estrada.mil@mail.mil or click here to visit their website

U.S. Army Phoenix Battalion Educators Tour Ft. Bragg

Mayor Jerry Weiers attended the U.S. Army Phoenix Battalion Tour to observe special forces training and capabilities at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.  The photo was taken in front of the John F. Kennedy Special Welfare Center and school headquarters.  The statue behind them honors October 12, 1961 where President Kennedy authorized the "Green Berets". 


New VA Clinic in the West Valley
Photo from the Phoenix VA Health Care System
Thousands of veterans will be served in the west valley at the new primary care clinic at W. Thomas Road and N. 93rd Avenue.  The 20,000 square foot facility will also provide mental health services, nutrition, pharmacy consulting and a lab draw station.  Before this clinic opened, west valley veterans had to go to the VA Hospital in Phoenix or a clinic in Surprise.  The Department of Veterans Affairs now operates 22 community based outpatient clinics in Arizona. 


Team Veteran Foundation Wellness Clinics
The Team Veteran Foundation wants to bring a permanent end to the daily veteran suicide epidemic.  Their mission is to empower veterans and their suffering from the life threatening medical conditions of TBI(Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTS(Post Traumatic Stress) with resources and services.  Gordon Brown, Foundation President, will speak at the next Military & Veterans Affairs Committee meeting on June 8th.

Upcoming Events
Our Military & Veterans Affairs Committee members work hard to advocate for active and former Military. One way they do this is by holding various community events.

Click here for a list of upcoming events backed by some of our members!
  
Does your business honor our heroes with specials and discounts for active military 
and/or veterans? If so let us know! Email you company name and a discount description Jackie Peyton at info@glendaleazchamber.org 
Please contact Chair of the Military & Veterans Affairs Committee,
Sgt. Jeff Turney, through our Chamber liaison, Harry Shapiro, at 623-937-4754
if you would like to learn more or have any suggestions
on where we can be of assistance.