LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro visited Lackland July 2, meeting with 37th Training Wing leadership, learning about the missions of the Air Force's largest training wing, and praising the strong relationship between Lackland and the community.
His first trip to the base since taking office, the meeting gave the mayor a glimpse into what the men and women of the 37th TRW do every day at Lackland and around the world. He said he was impressed with "the immense scale of activity at Lackland," and the magnitude of the training mission.
Referring to the 76,000 students trained annually by the 37th TRW, the mayor said, "it has a profound economic impact on the community, but it's even more special because of the mission that is carried out here. I have a deep respect for that."
During the meeting, the mayor received an overview of how the wing provides basic military, professional and technical skills, and English language training for the Air Force, other military services, government agencies, and U.S. allies. He also learned about Lackland's comprehensive conservation efforts, upcoming construction projects and the realignment of the city's military installation support functions under Joint Base San Antonio.
Mayor Castro said he was impressed with what he heard. He said San Antonio's great challenge in the coming years is to continue prospering in every way that a city can while maintaining the fundamental character of the city, the sense of community that sets San Antonio apart from America's bigger cities. The mayor believes the men and women of Lackland are key to successfully meeting those challenges.
"(Airmen) contribute to the prosperity of San Antonio by being part of a military that has a profound economic impact on our city; that creates opportunities," he said. "They are men and women of good character; they are the reason that folks who come to San Antonio say we are a nice, charming city. (Airmen) help make us stand above the rest."
Mayor Castro also discussed how Lackland will grow over the next few years, including the addition of nearly 3,000 employees to Bldg. 171 at Port San Antonio by August 2010. He said he will work to prepare the city to handle that growth by allocating resources for infrastructure improvements around the bases.
"We are working with the military to make sure we do everything we can to support families that are coming here," he said. Mayor Castro added that he plans to maintain a good relationship with the federal government to make sure San Antonio continues to be a place where military investment is made and supported.
Lackland and the community have always enjoyed a warm relationship. The city looks forward to continued military growth and to being as supportive as needed to make sure it is successful in its mission, he said. "San Antonio is a shining example of how military and local communities can support each other."