EGLIN AFB IN GOOD SHAPE AMID BUDGET CUTS

As Paul Harvey would say, and the rest of the story. Amid all the rumors and half truths, the bottom line is Eglin is in good shape and is poised to be in better shape amid Defense Budget Cuts. Why some ask. Because we are now a multi-mission base, which consist of operational, training, and testing, the tri-facta of military missions. We are strategically located in the United States, we have a Base the size of almost the State of Rhode Island, the quality of life for service men and women are some of the best in the country. In this day in age in the retention or recruiting for the military, the quality of life is one of the most important in keeping cost down and defending our nation. Some key points the Base Commander noted that were extremely important. They reorganized the management of the 46th Test Wing, not moved it. They invested 1.5 Billion in construction for a Army Base, F-35 Training School, and much more. They are putting 64 Million in the Eglin Hospital. Do you see the writing on the wall? Improve the Base support structure so more consolidation can be made and more military units can be absorbed at Eglin. As my daughter would say, “Just Saying”.

Commander: Eglin in good shape amid budget cuts
By DUSTY RICKETTS
Northwest Florida Daily News 315-4448 dricketts@nwfdailynews.com  
DESTIN — With another round of Base Realignment and Closure possibly coming in 2013 or 2015, the commander of the 96th Air Base Wing said Eglin Air Force Base remains well-positioned for future growth. Col. Sal Nodjomian spoke at Tuesday’s Leaders in Business Lunch organized by the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce. He gave a broad update on the effect of recent budget cuts on Eglin and local military missions. “While other bases are setting down again trying to build up their fortress walls trying to get ready for the next round of realignment, we’re not worried about that,” Nodjomian said. “We’re not worried about missions flying out of here. What we want to know is what can we possibly do to ensure mission flows in here. So as missions come out of other installations, what can we do to make sure we remain in receiver status for that mission.” Faced with budget reductions of almost $500 billion, the Air Force Materiel Command announced last year it would do away with seven of its 12 centers, one of those being Eglin’s Air Armament Center, which houses the 46th Test Wing and the 96th Air Base Wing. Concern arose in the community about the impact that would have on Eglin. But Nodjomian said the only effect was the elimination of some management positions, and that the 46th Test Wing and the 96th Air Base Wing were combined to operate as one “super wing” that would report to the Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. “The missions are going to remain the same and will continue to do great things in the area. The mission is not going away,” Nodjomian said. “Everything that the 46th Test Wing does today, it’s still going to be done out here. Everything that the 96th Air Base Wing does is still going to be done. The middlelevel management that existed is what took the hit. That’s to the tune of about 350 or so people. “That doesn’t mean that 350 people got pink slips, either,” he added. Nodjomian said Eglin has been under a hiring freeze since last August. When the management positions were eliminated, all but about two dozen people were realigned to unfilled posts. “Despite all the doom and gloom you hear on budgets and personnel cuts and everything else, the reality is we’ve done extremely well,” Nodjomian said. “We’ve invested over $1.5 billion in just the last couple of years. But we’ve also continued to invest in our child development centers, our playgrounds. Fitness continues to be a big issue for us, so we’re investing in our fitness program. We’re going to put $65 million into our medical complex and create one of the Air Force’s absolute best facilities. “The future continues to be extremely bright for what we’re doing out at Eglin, and we continue to position ourselves for continued growth,” he added.