NEW MISSIONS FOR EGLIN AFB MEANS MORE MILITARY AND CIVILIANS JOBS

I have noted on a number of occasions in the past that Eglin AFB will be on the eyes of the country for a number of reasons. Recently, the Air Force has started to be a little more open on the future plans for this area and will try to be more open on future new programs being planned so our local business community leaders can plan . As the Vice President of the Northwest Florida Military Officer's, I do get the privilege to be part of conversations, which outline the future here. Without losing their trust with some of the information, I also inform developers and builders know that this is a great area for growth. READ ON BELOW


New missions to bring more military personnel, civilian jobs
Mona Moore
2009-12-11 09:45:50

Base realignment and closure measures have become the base’s version of a stimulus program.
Col. Bruce McClintock, commander of the 96th Air Base Wing, shared the good news Friday in a media briefing he plans to make a monthly tradition.
“It’s a different economic environment and we’re growing. We’re opening the doors to jobs for our shared community,” he said.
McClintock announced what he called an era of growth. The base will increase in population, offer more jobs and improve housing.
With the drawdown of the 33rd Fighter Wing, Eglin’s population has been on a two-year decline that ended in November. More than 1,000 base personnel changed stations.
Over the next six years, the population is expected to increase by more than 6,200, thanks to the Army’s 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the Joint Strike Fighter training school.
Preparations for the new missions include an increase in civilian jobs, from carpenters to engineers. McClintock said the new opportunities were already starting. A quick search of Eglin positions on USAjobs.gov produced more than 1,000 results.
Planning for the growth has been in the works since the announcement of the BRAC-initiated missions. The base finally is at the hiring stage of the plans, McClintock said.
“For example, by 2012, we will need 42 additional civil engineer personnel,” he said. “It’s important to communicate that’s 42 more people we’ll be able to hire because of BRAC.”
Those numbers could increase if the base receives more than the initial 59 F-35 jets. Eglin is one of 11 bases still under consideration.
Other bases being considered include the Boise Air Terminal Air Guard Station, Idaho; Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.; Luke Air Force Base, Ariz.; and Tucson International Airport Air Guard Station, Ariz.
The Air Force also named six candidates for operational bases. Jacksonville International Airport, the only other Florida location on the lists, could house 18 jets with the Florida National Air Guard Station, said U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The Air Force used previously announced basing criteria such as airspace, flight training ranges, weather and support facilities to develop the list. In addition, McClintock said the Air Force will consider support the mission has in the community.
“The biggest indication is how the community’s responding to issues. Are they willing to accommodate the mission?” McClintock said.
McClintock’s briefing also included an update on the base’s housing solutions. Efforts to privatize housing have stalled three times since 2005.
The base’s original plans fizzled because of Hurricane Ivan and the increasing costs of construction, then were met with disfavor when sites at Camp Pinchot and Poquito Bayou were included.
Last year’s attempt to place all housing on Eglin’s main base was canceled because of the supplemental environmental impact statement for the Joint Strike Fighter.
McClintock then decided to invest more than $13 million to renovate existing housing and recreation. The plan started this year with $7.5 million in improvements.
“We’ve got to stop waiting for housing and improve the housing we have,” he said.
Renovations include $1.2 million to replace fixtures in 574 homes and a $5 million budget request to do more extensive renovations to 100 homes.
Playground renovations, new bike paths and running tracks are also in the works.