Florida's bid to become a strategic hub for military training entered a new chapter as Senator Ashley Moody advocated for the Sunshine State to host the new U.S. Coast Guard training facility. According to a news release on the senator's official website, Moody has penned a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, underscoring the numerous advantages of situating the facility in Florida.
In her letter, which is publicized on her website, Senator Moody argues that “Florida already plays a substantial role in securing our country—we’re the proud home of 21 military installations and three combatant commands. It just makes sense that our nation’s next U.S. Coast Guard training facility join these bases here in the Sunshine State, where we have a proven military infrastructure, available capacity, and strong interagency partnerships," according to the same news release.
Senator Moody did not hold back in her case for why Florida should be given the nod, emphasizing the state's commitment to military readiness. "The Sunshine State has a proven military infrastructure, available capacity, and strong interagency partnerships, and I am committed to ensuring that it remains at the forefront of military readiness," Moody wrote, as noted by the senator's official website.
Moreover, Moody highlighted the Sunshine State's appeal to personnel and their families, citing elements such as Florida's lack of state income tax and military pension exemptions, along with numerous VA facilities. Senator Moody’s assertion, "Our people, military installations, and state leadership all stand united behind the goal of strengthening America’s readiness," attests to a broad base of support for her proposal, as per the senator's official website.
