QBRBA meets to sign Armed Forces Community Covenant

The Quantico/Belvoir Regional Business Alliance annual meeting was held in Woodbridge, Va., June 5, and focused on building relationships between civilian partners and the military.

At the event, Chairman of the Board, Miles Friedman discussed the on-growing relationship between local businesses and military entities in Marine Corps Base Quantico and Army Installation Fort Belvoir.

                During the meeting, business professionals within the DoD sector networked and shared ideas concerning local military bases and the surrounding communities.

                Friedman stated, “The D.C., Maryland and Virginia area is one of the top-populated areas where veterans reside. Our mission is to create a partnership between service members and their families and the surrounding businesses within the area.”

                During the talk, Friedman emphasized how the large and growing population of the armed forces created a space which local businesses couldn’t neglect. Because of the high frequency of foot traffic that service members and their families create, businesses have to better educate themselves by learning more about the military and their efforts.

                Friedman underlined the importance of how businesses should consider military-affiliated programs.  These programs would be mutually beneficial for both growing business and serving the military.  

Friedman continued, “The military is changing, they are trying to be more involved in helping communities and creating a better understanding with each other. The vanguard to that change is Colonel David W. Maxwell.”

Friedman introduced Maxwell on the stage to speak about his intentions and objectives to help drive this initiative forward.

Maxwell said, “The Marine Corps is changing. We want to be more involved with the surrounding community and build stronger relationships between the two. By having surrounding businesses understand our efforts and vise-versa, it will not only help the base and businesses, but it will build a stronger relationship between the two entities in the long run. I’m invested in taking care of Marines and the community.”

Maxwell stressed about how the military was changing and with that change, measures would have to be considered.

“It is no longer about the military only being involved within our bases and separating ourselves from the outer community. Our service members use your products and services. Because of that, we are focused on having a stronger alliance between the base and community. As a result, we can create opportunities for service members and veterans,” Maxwell continued.    

At the core of Maxwell’s message was understanding.

“If the military can understand the services and functions of the surrounding businesses, and if the community can understand the aims of the military, then both bodies can create a synergistic partnership that can jointly build goodwill and mutually benefit from each other,” he said.

“Please never forget that what our service members go through comes at a cost. Thank you for providing support for our wounded, ill and injured veterans, it is much appreciated,” Maxwell concluded.  

The meeting concluded with a signing of the Armed Forces Community Covenant document which vowed to assist community leaders to work closely together in developing programs which support service members, veterans and their families.