THE TRUTH ABOUT THE ARMY SPECIAL FORCES COMING TO EGLIN

The following is the highlights of the coming of the Army Special Forces by Colonel Bloomberg. Hopefully, this will also provide some useful information in understanding this group of military to our area. As noted, these families are allowed to arrive as early as this summer. With supply of affordable/quality being low for this number of folks, it will make sense for these families to show up now before the prices go up because of high demand and very low supply next year. If you have any questions about this process don't hesitate to give me a call.


Bloomberg helps squelch rumors as move from Fort Bragg nears
By MONA MOORE
Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4443
mmoore@nwfdailynews.com  
FORT WALTON BEACH — Army Lt. Col. Gary Bloomberg starts every meeting he has with 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) families with the same question: “Who’s heard something crazy about Northwest Florida?”
As chief of the integration team charged with preparing the arrival of Eglin Air Force Base’s new tenants, Bloomberg has heard many myths about Fort Bragg, N.C., and Northwest Florida. He shared a few of them recently when he talked with the Daily News’ Editorial Board.
He said he and his team were assigned to Okaloosa County last summer, two years before 7th Special Forces battalions start to arrive.
He said local officials have asked whether they will need more jail space and police to handle the “rowdy” Army guys. On the Fort Bragg trips, he hears about fears of hurricanes and alligators.
Bloomberg said he was surprised in both cases.
“I almost didn’t know how to respond to the jail thing,” he said.
The Green Berets Bloomberg describes sound more like Jack Bauer of “24” than America’s Most Wanted: They are dedicated to their profession and their country.
Bloomberg calls them “triple volunteers.” They volunteered for the Army, then volunteered to jump out of airplanes and then volunteered for the Special Forces.
Its members are deployed in 18 South American countries and in Afghanistan. They deploy in detachments of 12 men or go on missions with one or two men.
The average Green Beret is 30 to 32 years old, has about 10 years of experience and is as fit as a professional athlete. He has a college degree or has attended college, is culturally sensitive and is fluent in at least two languages.
The soldiers are trained as engineers, medics, communications or weapons specialists. They usually are noncommissioned officers with an E-7 pay grade, or more than $40,000 a year.
Soldiers deploy for about seven months a year, which means families become resilient and learn to function without family members. Bloomberg said he has been gone for six of the last eight years and for half of his 16-year marriage.
The danger Green Berets face also takes a toll on families. Bloomberg said every child of a soldier knows at least one person with a father who has been killed or wounded in action.
Bloomberg also said the soldiers are family men, avid hunters and fishermen and likely will coach youth soccer.
They are going to invest in real estate — and not just in Crestview, as another rumor claimed.
Because Special Forces soldiers donotchangestations,theylikelywill retire in the area. Bloomberg considers that an advantage for everyone.
“It’s so obvious how pro-military this community is, and what’s interesting is it seems genuine,” Bloomberg said. “We’re going to add to the fabric of this community. There are no downsides for us.”
More than 2,000 soldiers — about 500 a month — will start arriving in May 2011. Because the Army allows families to move down a year ahead of time, the area could start to see the 4,300 family members this summer.
The Special Forces will be at this year’s Eglin air show. Visitors can meet one of the detachments and see a demonstration from the Black Daggers, the Army Special Operations parachute team.
Bloomberg said he never has felt more welcomed than he has on the Emerald Coast. Eglin has made accommodations for its newest tenants, including a BX and gas station (which will be open to anyone with military identification) just outside the Green Berets’ campus south of Crestview. Base officials also have made relocation resources available online and have visited families at Fort Bragg.
Through Base Realignment and Closure, Eglin has funded an overpass across State Road 85 that will allow soldiers easy access to Duke Field.
The soldiers will train with special operations units at Duke and Hurlburt Field. Bloomberg said that will create a natural synergy that will carry over to missions.
“The end result will be a better joint force,” he said. “It’s going to be amazing.”