Every year, personnel from Keesler AFB represent the Base at the Air
Force Marathon, which has been hosted at Wright‐Patterson AFB in
Ohio since 1997. In 2014, five Keesler AFB Airmen participated in the
run and pledged to each raise $500 for the Air Force Enlisted Village, a
nonprofit organization that provides housing to surviving spouses of Air
Force enlisted members.
Keesler AFB has hosted the Mississippi Special Olympics for the last
30 years on the installation. The Mississippi Special Olympics is an
annual event, providing athletic competition for Olympic‐style sports
for those with intellectual disabilities. The event draws in
approximately 900 athletes and coaches and approximately
3,000 volunteers to the installation annually. During the weekend
event, each athlete is sponsored by two student Airmen who ensure
that the athletes are being properly fed, rested, and medically attended
to. The athletes also stay in the dorms on the Base with their sponsor
Airmen throughout the weekend.
The Base is involved in many local celebrations. Keesler AFB participates
in local Mardi Gras parades every year. In 2016, the Keesler Honor
Guard led the North Bay Area Mardi Gras Parade. For the Jeff Davis
Elementary School Mardi Gras Parade, base leadership participated as
Grand Marshalls for the event. Other events that Keesler AFB
participates in are the Biloxi Seafood Festival, Christmas on the Water,
and Blessing of the Fleet.
Keesler AFB has a strong presence in Veterans Day observance events.
Some examples of events in which the Base participates in are the Gulf
Coast’s Annual Veterans Day Parade, in which the 81st Training Group’s
Drum and Bugle Corps, Honor Guard, and 81st Training Wing leadership
has historically been a part of. There is a strong military retiree
population in the surrounding community; in Mississippi alone, there
are almost 14,000 retirees.
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Memorial Day ceremonies are held every year on base and in the
community. In Biloxi, the Memorial Day Ceremony is held at the Biloxi
National Cemetery. Keesler AFB personnel will participate by playing
taps during the ceremony and attending the ceremony alongside local
veterans and family members.
Keesler AFB has been involved with greening efforts throughout the
Gulf Coast, such as participating in Keep America Beautiful efforts after
Hurricane Katrina.
Volunteers from the Base have assisted in cleaning the beach and have
also volunteered with replanting seagrass on the beach in an effort to
restore damaged habitat during times of storms.
In addition to these community outreach activities, the Base also has an online
list of volunteer opportunities for military personnel. Such volunteering
opportunities include assisting in local social events and escorting residents to
various events or outings.
Sources: http://www.keesler.af.mil/; http://www.keesler.af.mil/;
http://ndms.fhpr.osd.mil/; http://www.specialolympicsms.org/;
http://www.keesler.af.mil/News/Commentaries/Display/tabid/1005/Article/753332/th
e‐spirit‐of‐special‐olympics.aspx;
http://www.keesler.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/966/Article/652167/keesler‐
participates‐in‐mardi‐gras‐festivities.aspx; http://www.prnewswire.com/news‐
releases/keep‐america‐beautiful‐continues‐gulf‐coast‐greening‐efforts‐with‐great‐
american‐cleanup‐event‐in‐gulfport‐miss‐51660587.html;
http://www.keesler.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/VolunteerOpportunities.aspx
3.6.
Military Operations
Primary operations at Keesler AFB include electronics training, weather
reconnaissance, tactical airlift support, disaster response, medical care and
training, management of Air Force training, electronic communications
installation, and training for various disciplines for other branches of the
Armed Forces. Operations are conducted to execute missions by the host
units and tenant organizations. The following are the host units and tenant
organizations and activities that operate at Keesler AFB:
Background Report