DM50 SADA Survey: 9 in 10 Southern Arizonans support area military installations

DM50 SADA smallTUCSON, AZ –Southern Arizonans express continued strong support for the area’s military installations and for bringing the F-35 to the region, according to a survey measuring attitudes toward military installations, defense operations and economic development put out by Mission Strong. The survey is an update to a 2014 poll. The research was commissioned by the DM50 in partnership with the Southern Arizona Defense Alliance (SADA) to understand public sentiment about the community’s military presence and share that information with elected officials and government leadership in Washington, D.C.

“We are very pleased to see high levels of support for all of our military installations, as well as regional awareness and strong recognition of these assets as beneficial to the local economy,” said Brian Harpel, president of the DM50. “Our communities clearly support these bases. We see that with Davis-Monthan and throughout Southern Arizona.

“Davis-Monthan continues to be the best facility in the U.S. for future flying missions,” Harpel said. “The base, with its proximity to the Goldwater Air Force Range, offers the best weather, range and air space of any in the nation.”

SADA initiated a public awareness and support campaign last year called Mission Strong to focus individual, community and business leaders and build a broad-based coalition spanning both sides of the political aisle.

Highlights of the 2015-2016 community survey include:

  • Regional awareness of military installations by local residents remains high, with over 90
  • percent and 80 percent of respondents indicating awareness and support of Davis-Monthan
  • Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca, respectively.
  • More than 85 percent of respondents agree that a strong military presence is beneficial to the local economy.
  • More than 90 percent of Southern Arizonans support local military bases, with more than three-quarters of those surveyed saying they had “strong” or “very strong” support, an increase of 1.5% from 2014.
  • There was no statistical difference from 2014 to 2016 in levels of support among residents living closest to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the 162nd Fighter Wing and those who lived in all other areas of Southern Arizona.
  • The vast majority of the public recognize the benefits of local military installations for economic viability, national defense, and giving the community a sense of pride.
  • More than 75 percent of respondents indicated they were in favor of bringing the F-35 to Southern Arizona. Less than one in 10 respondents had any negative response to the F-35.
  • Levels of support for the F-35 among residents living closest to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and the 162nd Fighter Wing were only slightly lower than those who lived in all other parts of Southern Arizona

“Our military installations are vital economic drivers for our communities, providing more than 62,000 jobs and pumping $5.4 billion dollars in our economy every year,” said Larry Lucero, president of SADA. “The Air Force plan for A-10 reduction is the reality of the budget pressures faced by Congress. However, until a suitable replacement is developed and available, the current world situation requires the A-10 asset to support our troops and allies.”

According to a Bloomberg Government Study released in 2011, southeastern Arizona ranks No. 7 in U.S. military spending in the nation.

Mission Strong includes a website, missionstrongaz.org, where residents can sign up to participate in the community effort. The campaign includes informational materials, ongoing updates, community presentations and public service advertising.

SADA was formed in late 2012 with a purpose of supporting sustainability of the region’s military installations, defense and aerospace partners and associated education and research institutions. Through its members, SADA represents tens of thousands of Southern Arizonans. The growing list of supporters includes the 162nd Fighter Wing Air National Guard Air Guardians, Cox Communications, DM50, Fort Huachuca 50, HSL Properties, International Association of Machinists, Metropolitan Pima Alliance, Pima County, Southern Arizona Home Builders Association, Southern Arizona Business Coalition, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Sun Corridor Inc., Town of Marana, Town of Oro Valley, Town of Sahuarita, Tucson Association of Realtors, Tucson Electric Power, Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tucson Metro Chamber, VisitTucson and the Yuma Chamber of Commerce.

The DM-50 is a diverse group of Tucson business and civic leaders founded to strengthen the relationship between Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (“DM”) personnel and the civilian population of the region, and to improve the quality of life for service personnel and their families to show respect and appreciation for our military’s service to the nation. The group, a non-profit, volunteer service organization, has no formal ties to DM and functions as an advocate for the base.

Read the full report here