JBSA Senior Enlisted Advisors Meet for Final Committee Meeting of the Year

Your San Antonio Chamber of Commerce’s Senior Enlisted Advisory Committee (SEAC) met virtually to close out 2021 with an informative discussion on topics surrounding military spouse employment and community support. The SEAC’s mission is to provide a forum to facilitate communication among the Senior Non-Commissioned Officers from all branches of the military in the San Antonio area and to provide a mechanism for the military to communicate any needs/issues to the business community and vice versa. The issues discussed revolve around quality of life for our service members and their families, as well as support of the many military missions hosted in San Antonio. Grant Hegner (Booz Allen Hamilton), who serves as the SEAC Chair, provided background on the San Antonio Military Spouse Economic Empowerment Zone (MSEEZ) established in 2018 as the first location in the United States. With the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes, in collaboration with USAA, the launch of MSEEZ was an effort to address the widespread challenges faced by military spouses as they search for meaningful career opportunities. The program connects military spouses with employers in the local community and a range of employment-related tools and resources.  This professional career web is invaluable where approximately 80% of jobs fill by referral. Locally, the San Antonio MSEEZ has rallied interested business members to support the cause and have established three pillars of work:

• Advocacy
• Hiring
• Training

The December SEAC meeting focused on advocacy efforts where Debe Clark (City of San Antonio Office of Military and Veterans Affairs) presented the details of the advocacy pillar which aims for policy changes via legislative action, regulatory revisions, or other policy-change mechanisms that will positively impact the employment opportunities, accessibility, and outcomes for military spouses. This business coalition meets routinely to develop and implement a plan to increase the interest and awareness of various military spouse programs with whom business organizations can collaborate. With the growth of industries such as aerospace, financial services, and manufacturing, thoughtful targeting of military spouses to fill vital roles will be a win-win for the organization and the spouse, as well as the military service member and family. The SEAC will begin meeting in 2022 with a focus on monthly engagement with Senior Enlisted Leaders, highlighting their important roles in our military community, and creating opportunities for businesses to support the men, women, and families who make up Joint Base San Antonio. For more details on the SEAC or participating as a volunteer in the MSEEZ, please email Lori Stinson, VP of Military Affairs and Leadership Development, at lstinson@sachamber.org.