DAVID DISHNEAU
Associated Press

ABERDEEN, Md. (AP) — The senior commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground says stronger ties between the Army installation and the surrounding community could help avert large job cuts at the research and weapons-testing post near Baltimore.

Maj. Gen. Bruce Crawford told reporters Friday that he’s reaching out to small businesses and inviting the private sector to consider APG a partner in job creation.

Crawford says he’s also reminding the civilian population to express support for military missions and gratitude for those serving in the armed forces.

An Army report last month raised the possibility of that Aberdeen could lose up to 4,300 military and civilian jobs by 2020 due to cuts in the budget and the size of the U.S. armed forces.

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