SAN DIEGO – When San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick comes to Qualcomm on Thursday, he will be playing in a city with incredibly strong military roots.
In the 2014-15 fiscal year, the military sector was responsible for about 22 percent of San Diego County’s jobs, according to a 2015 report from the San Diego Military Advisory Council, a local nonprofit group. That equaled about 328,000 jobs.
Defense-related activities and spending in the region during that fiscal year was $45 billion, accounting for 21.5 percent of the region’s total gross regional product, the SDMAC found.
Direct military spending amounted to $7,700 per county resident.
The 49 Navy ships based in San Diego generated direct spending of about $2.6 billion and $5.7 billion in GRP, the report found. The two aircraft carriers based in San Diego brought a combined $1.5 billion to the economy, the report said.
On Wednesday, service members took part in an NFL boot camp at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar hosted by the San Diego Chargers.
During Thursday’s game, the Chargers will conduct their 28th annual Salute to the Military tonight, including a pregame parachute jump by retired Navy SEALS.
Kaepernick was seen sitting during a rendition of the national anthem before a game last week and later said he wouldn't stand to show pride in a flag "for a country that oppresses black people and people of color." The quarterback’s decision has prompted a national conversation. He has received both criticism and support for his stand.
The SDMAC economic impact study was prepared by the Fermanian Business and Economic Institute at Point Loma Nazarene University.
