U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks joins community partners and Team Redstone officials Tuesday in accepting the 2016 Army Community Partnership Award at the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon in Washington.

The Alabama National Guard and Team Redstone were presented with two of five Community Partnership Awards presented Tuesday by the Department of the Army.

The event, hosted by the Honorable Patrick Murphy, Undersecretary of the Army, recognizes communities and installations who work together to enhance readiness, cost savings and quality of life.

U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-5th, who was in attendance at Tuesday’s ceremony said he was proud the efforts of both groups had been recognized.

“ … The Alabama Army National Guard has shown tremendous innovative capabilities through partnerships, including with the Alabama State Department of Education, placing counselors and career coaches in classrooms to enhance retention and recruitment,” Brooks said.

In speaking about Team Redstone, Garrison Commander Col. Tom Holliday said Redstone Arsenal is striving to become the “garrison of the future.”

“We cannot reach that goal without our friends and neighbors of the Tennessee Valley,” he said. “The partnership we enjoy is beneficial to the Army, but goes beyond the fence line of our post. This community is an example of what can happen when people work together … they can achieve anything.”

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said Huntsville has always considered itself “an Army town,” and added the city is proud of its ongoing work with Redstone.

“They are our community partner and a major employer,” Battle said. “Whatever we can do to support Redstone helps our community, our nation, and the free world.”

The Army noted Huntsville’s work to improve Redstone’s infrastructure through improvements to Goss Road, Martin Road and Gate 9, the EUL public-private partnership, and officer housing.

Brooks said he was “immensely impressed” with the successful collaboration of Redstone with the City of Huntsville, Madison County, State of Alabama, and the Tennessee Valley Authority to “enhance readiness for our military personnel.”

“In a time of budget constraints, these partnerships between Army installations and local agencies have fostered growth across Alabama and provided important cost savings for the state and the Department of Defense,” he said.