JUST SOUTH OF CRESTVIEW - DUKE FIELD READY TO WELCOME ARMY AND F-35 TRAINING

Duke Field looks forward to Army neighbors
Mona Moore
2009-07-31 18:18:32

DUKE FIELD — The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure decision didn’t mention the Air Force reserve base by name. But the home of the 919th Special Operations Wing may turn out to play a key role in the bed-down of Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the F-35 training school.With its headquarters just across State Road 85, the Army will rely on Duke Field for some exercises and deployment. But its pending arrival in 2011 barely has made a ripple at the 919th. Col. Jon Weeks, commander of the 919th SOW, said his future neighbors have had no impact on operations. The Special Forces will use some facilities on Duke that Weeks said the 919th is more than willing to share. “We look at it as we’re a tenant here on Eglin,” Weeks said. “As a tenant, as they go through the (bed-down) options, the folks will look at it as a team effort approach.”The Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) has no aircraft. The group will coordinate with Army and Air Force groups for air operations training. Weeks said the 919th most likely will have opportunities to do some joint training with the group.“We look forward to working with them,” he said.The 919th is the only special operations wing in the Air Force Reserve. With more than 1,100 reservists, the wing provides maintenance and support for special operations missions. In fiscal 2009, the wing has already flown more than 600 combat sorties in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. As a result of operating in Iraq and Afghanistan, Weeks said airmen of the 919th are accustomed to integrated efforts with the Army. In fact, two airmen were decorated with Army awards for their achievements in Iraq.The team approach may also play a role in dispelling the F-35’s impact on Valparaiso. Lawyers and officials for the city have lobbied for Duke Field as the preferred alternative for F-35 missions. It is one of many solutions the Air Force is examining.Weeks expects some F-35 training at Duke and is confident conflicts with the bed-down will be resolved.“I believe it’s all going to work out for Team Eglin and for the nation,” he said.Most the 919th is at Duke Field. But its most recent addition works in conjunction with the 3rd Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, where the 919th has a MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial System. Weeks said it is not uncommon for a wing to have installations elsewhere. Relatively new reserve operations in New Mexico are not an indication that other squadrons will leave Duke to make room for the BRAC bed-down.“No, no, no. Not at all,” he said. “We’re not going anywhere.”