Progress Inc

ESTABLISHED IN 1956, THE U.S. STRATCOM CONSULTATION COMMITTEE (SCC) OPERATES AS PROGRESS, INC., A NON-PROFIT 501(C)(6) ORGANIZATION. THE SCC WAS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE SAC CONSULTATION COMMITTEE UNTIL 1992, WHEN THE STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND MERGED INTO THE NEW UNITED STATES STRATEGIC COMMAND. THE MEMBERSHIP IS COMPRISED OF SENIOR EXECUTIVES IN THE OMAHA AREA WITH A COMMON INTEREST IN PROMOTING GOOD RELATIONS BETWEEN THE COMMUNITY AND THE COMMANDS AT OFFUTT AFB.AFTER MOVING THE STRATEGIC AIR COMMAND FROM ANDREWS AFB TO OFFUTT AFB IN 1948, COMMANDER GENERAL CURTIS LEMAY FOUND THAT THE SURROUNDING AREA WAS ILL PREPARED TO ACCEPT WHAT WOULD BECOME A SIGNIFICANT MILITARY PRESENCE. GENERAL LEMAY WORKED WITH THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO RAISE PRIVATE FUNDS TO ACQUIRE LAND ADJACENT TO THE BASE FOR MILITARY HOUSING. IN 1951, THE CHAMBER RAISED FUNDS TO PROVIDE HOME-LIKE FURNISHINGS FOR NEW DORMITORY HOUSING FOR ENLISTED MEN.IN 1956, GENERAL LEMAY APPROACHED SEVERAL BUSINESS LEADERS IN OMAHA ABOUT FORMING AN ADVISORY GROUP TO WORK WITH SAC ON BASE ISSUES. THE FOUNDING GROUP OF 13 MEMBERS OPERATED INFORMALLY AS THE OMAHA CITIZENS COMMITTEE, SAC CITIZENS COMMITTEE, SAC ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND FINALLY SAC CONSULTATION COMMITTEE. THEIR ACTIVITIES WERE FORMALIZED WHEN THE NON PROFIT PROGRESS, INC. WAS FORMED IN 1962.IN RECENT YEARS, COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP HAS BEEN IN THE RANGE OF 20 TO 30 OMAHA BUSINESS LEADERS. THE COMMITTEE'S FORMAL MANSATE IS TO ACT AS AN ADVISOR TO THE COMMANDER OF U.S. STRATCOM ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN TO THE COMMAND AND THE COMMUNITY AND TO BUILD CIVILIAN MILITARY RELATIONSHIPS AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS TO OFFUTT AFB.TWICE A YEAR, THE COMMANDER INVITES COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO AN ON BASE UNCLASSIFIED BRIEFING REGARDING GLOBAL MILITARY CONCERNS AS WELL AS ISSUES THAT IMPACT THE OMAHA AREA. THE COMMANDER ALSO HOSTS AN ANNUAL GOLF DAY FOR STRATCOM AND WING OFFICERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS, INCLUDING THE SCC. EACH YEAR THE SCC ASSISTS THE COMMAND WITH PRESENTATION OF THE OMAHA TROPHY. ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF OMHAH, THE TROPHY IS AWARDED TO STRATCOM UNITS DEMONSTRATING THE HIGHEST PERFORMANCE STANDARDS IN THE COMMAND'S FOUR MISSION AREAS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE LIKEWISE INVITED TO SOCIAL EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY. THE NON PROFIT, PROGRESS, INC. HAS CONTRIBUTED TO SERVERAL QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS ON OFFUTT AFB OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS- CONSTRUCTION OF IMPORTANT BASE FITNESS CENTER- REHABILITATION AND UPGRADE OF HISTORIC PARADE GROUNDS- SAFE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BASE AND THE MANY MILES OF COMMUNITYBICYCLE PATHS- RECONSTRUCTION OF LITTLE LEAGUE BALLFIELDS- CONSTRUCTION OF A MEMORIAL WALL HONORING COMMAND PERSONNEL WHO DIED IN THE LINE OF DUTY- ASSISTANCE IN KEEPING THE BASE SWIMMING POOL OPEN WHENSEQUESTRATION ELIMINATED FUNDING- VINTAGE WWII ERA UNIFORMS FOR THE COMMAND'S CONCERT BAND- 'AVENUE OF FLAGS' AT THE BASE'S KENNY GATE - CIVILIAN AIRCRAFTFUEL FOR ANNUAL AIR SHOW- ANNUAL HONORARIUMS TO WINNERS OF THE GENERAL LARRY D. WELCHDETERRENCE WRITING AWARD PRESENTED DURING THE U.S. STRATCOMDETERRENCE SYMPOSIUMTHE COMMITTEE'S ACTIVITIES THROUGH PROGRESS, INC. HAVE BEEN A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN MAINTAINING GOOD BASE COMMUNITY RELATIONS. OTHER MILITARY INSTALLATIONS HAVE SOUGHT TO FORM SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS AND DUPLICATE THE RELATIONSHIP ENJOYED BY OFFUTT AFB AND OMAHA OVER NEARLY 50 YEARS.