As Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota prepares to receive the department’s new B-21 aircraft, the Black Hills area has formed a new coalition to welcome military members and their families to the community.

According to its website, the Black Hills Military Advisory Coalition “seeks to unify the voices of our community leaders to strengthen the connection between the military and community.” The goals of the organization are to increase quality of life service members and their families, increase community outreach and support, and continue to build on Black Hills’ thriving defense economy.

Members that formed the organization say that the project has been in progress for the past few months. Chairman Jack Lynass says it was started to serve a greater need for the community, New Center 1 reports.

“We found that everybody was kinda doing their own thing but nobody was really communicating with each other and it just made sense to come together under one roof,” said Lynass.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Hailey Staker