Schenectady Military Affairs Council (SMAC)

Stratton Air National Guard Base is one of the top five largest employers in Schenectady County and brings more than 1300 highly skilled, service-oriented individuals to our community. The base and its units are extremely important contributors to countless activities throughout the entire Capital Region. The Schenectady Military Affairs Council values the importance of Stratton ANGB to the overall well being of Schenectady County’s economic and quality of life climate. SMAC’s mission is to enhance the importance of the military presence in Schenectady County, we strive to facilitate, communicate, and cooperate with the 109th Airlift Wing, surrounding communities, businesses, governments, and all other military units. Our goal is to connect the community and military in symbiotic partnership. We do this two ways:

• Increasing public knowledge of the contributions made by the 109th Airlift Wing and other tenant units at the base, which have global, national and regional impacts. This step will acknowledge and highlight the positive partnerships that the military has already achieved with State and Federal agencies. We strive to have all parties understand the importance of the 109th Airlift Wing’s mission as an integral part of securing our nation and the role of Stratton Air National Guard Base as a vital facility in the 21st century military.
• Bringing attention to the wide community support and pride for our local military units. The Stratton Air National Guard Base and the 109th Airlift Wing have a significant impact on the local community. The community support for the unit and the base is widespread and will be highlighted through effective campaigning, lobbying, and advertising.

The SMAC logo highlights the worldwide connection all units at Stratton Air National Guard Base provide for Schenectady County, New York. Literally covering the globe from pole to pole, the 109th Airlift Wing’s LC-130 aircraft serves as the focal point for our support of all Stratton Air National Guard Base assigned military forces.

On November 16-17, The Schenectady Military Affairs Council and the 109th Airlift Wing hosted a Civic Leaders Tour to Washington, DC, aboard the C-130 aircraft. More than 20 business and community representatives joined the crew to learn more about the polar mission in Greenland and Antarctica and the aeromedical evacuation unit. While in Washington, the group visited the Air National Guard Readiness Center, the Pentagon and the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery (above).