Blog
Occupational Health Council Eglin Air Force Base - 08/18/2007
Commentary by Col. Joseph A. LanniVice Commander, Air Armament Center & Chairman, Eglin Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health Council - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.
-- In less than three weeks, every Eglin unit and organization will be subject to an evaluation of its compliance with environmental laws and guidelines when Air Force Materiel Command environmental officials visit to conduct an Environmental, (and Occupational Health) Compliance Assessment and Management Program (EOHCAMP) evaluation July 9-13.
Eglin is prepared.
Thirteen protocols, which include hazardous waste management and water quality management, will be thoroughly assessed by a team who knows those processes and programs and how they should work, inside and out.
Eglin is ready.
Why so confident, you ask? Because I know Team Eglin has made all the necessary preparation for this external EOHCAMP. I know the difference between glancing at a regulation and making environmental safety and health part of our lifestyle...and I know that the lifestyle is stressed at all levels of our workforce. I know that commanders and their Unit Environmental Coordinators, all 98 of them, have been ensuring the finer details of their unit's environmental programs are in order, and are hitting the streets, stressing ownership of the program by everyone. I know they'll continue these efforts right up until showtime when the AFMC team arrives at their unit's doorstep in early July.
That's the kind of effort it will take to ensure success during this evaluation.
I believe that all of Team Eglin understands that the future of this great nation rests in our hands right now and our job #1 is to carry out our mission and protect our country. That requires us to integrate all of our efforts toward conserving our resources...that's natural, infrastructure and human resources that supports and conduct our mission. The EOHCAMP results will give us a clear picture of how well we are doing that now, as well as areas to improve in moving forward.
As we prepare for the upcoming evaluation, let's continue to improve Eglin's Environmental Management System to a benchmark that others will mimic. Our next challenge in that process will begin 9 July.
Team Eglin, continue to do what it takes to be ready for this and future challenges...our workforce, our mission and our nation depend on it.
Exchange Select quality and price registering with military families - 08/18/2007
EGLIN AFB, Fla. -- Military shoppers in search of the best value for their dollar are increasingly reaching for "private label" products manufactured under the Exchange Services' "Exchange Select" brand. The steady demand for affordably priced, quality products by the military community continues to drive expansion of the Exchange Select brand, available exclusively at Navy, Marine and Coast Guard Exchanges, Veterans Canteen Service locations and Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) BXs and PXs.
We introduced 67 new 'Exchange Select' items in 2006 including value pack diapers and baby wipes, whitening pre-brush oral rinse and smoking cessation gum," said the Eglin AFB BX's General Manager Myra Moore. "The entire portfolio now includes 557 unique items, all priced to deliver substantial savings."
Whether shopping for health and beauty care items, household cleaning and laundry products or even a single-use camera, Exchange Select products offer quality that is equal to or better than equivalent national brands at an average savings of 50 percent.
"Our Quality Assurance team actively ensures the quality of 'Exchange Select' merchandise by visiting suppliers' plants to verify 'Good Manufacturing Practices,' as set by the Food and Drug Administration as well as other governing agencies, are used," said Moore. "In fact, all over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, meet FDA established guidelines, which are the same for 'Exchange Select' and national brand equivalent products."
Name brand quality combined with "private label" pricing continues to attract military shoppers as "Exchange Select" sales have increased 30 percent since the brand was first introduced in the summer of 2002. As a result, the Exchange Services continue to broaden their "private label" assortment through line extensions in existing categories and expansion into new programs.
"Exchange Select" stock assortment additions currently in development include oatmeal based baby toiletries, women's premium triple-blade disposable razors, sugar-free cough drops, plastic applicator tampons and "custom-size-it" paper towels.
A thank you to the Eglin Military official website for this story
Eglin Airmen selected for promotion - 08/18/2007
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Air Force officials selected 15,130 of 36,608 eligible senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant for a selection rate of 41.33 percent, up 5.46 percent from last year.
The complete list of selectees will be posted on AFPC's enlisted promotions Web page no later than 3 p.m. CDT Aug. 15.
"The promotion opportunity for this year is outstanding," said Chief Master Sgt. Rusty Nicholson, the enlisted promotion branch chief at the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base. "This is a great day for the United States Air Force and a significant event for the Air Force's newest group of noncommissioned officers."
The average staff sergeant selectee score for the 07E5 staff sergeant test cycle was 270.71 points, based on the following: -- 131.72 Enlisted Performance Reports -- 55.99 Promotion Fitness Exam -- 54.33 Specialty Knowledge Test -- 2.15 Time in Grade -- 4.72 Time in Service -- 0.85 Decorations
There are 4,894 enlisted Airmen who will have yet to take the Weighted Airmen Promotion System test, primarily due to deployment, Chief Nicholson said. "Upon their return, they will be provided the 60-day study time prior to testing and then automatically be considered via the monthly supplemental process."
Air Armament Center Stacia Zachary
28th Test Squadron Wendy Scheibe
33rd Fighter Wing Eugene Farmer Omar Phillips Elisa Young
33rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Bradley Barkley Christopher Blake Charles Bock Steven Bohler Brandon Brock Kyle Bryant William Calban Leuris Castillo Kyle Cramere Delmas Crawford Jeffery Dehaan Billy Gene Drake Kenneth Duby James Flannery Patrick Gervais Robert Hall William Haselden Eric Hilliard James Holness Ronald Jenkins Chester Johnson Craig Kelley Frederick Koval Rudolph Lange Timothy Lawson Ronald Legarde Eric Litton Danny Makowsky Even Martin Thomas Martineau Brian Mathison Nicholas Mays Dennis McKelvey Justin McLane Kevin Mickley Gerald Mitchell Michael Monroe Jesus Pena Regis Peoples Benjamin Picasio Benjamin Proffitt Brian Quinerly Jael Rivera Jeffrey Robbins Daniel Sanders Samuel Sargent Nicholas Schmidt David Shafer Alex Stinebrickner Michael Sweely Brandon Takacs Charles Taylor Randall Vander Woude Joey Vandusen Jonathan Whelan Darryl White
33rd Maintenance Operations Squadron Michael Alwood Leanna Bailon Albert Benitez Nichole Guest Crystal Perez
33rd Maintenance Squadron Nicholas Anziano Edwin Bermudez Tracie Bone Joshua Bosworth Jeremy Bowden Curtis Bracksieck Lacey Brumfield Lisa Caluag Michael Crenshaw Carlos Cruz Nathan Cumberledge Ross Currie Matthew Curtis Daniel Dallas Jessica Deangelis Michael Disori Bradford Doyon Dustin Elizondo Jason Ellison Daniel Fulghum Chad Gamache Robert Gonzales Destiny Harp Erik Harper Benjamin Hollins Robert Kawasaki David Knight Adam Koon Eugene Lofton Christopher Marcum Michael Marr Edwin Matos Joseph McGoldrick James McKay Kelli McLean Weston Miller Sharif Pryce Roderick Randolph Andrew Rauch Antonio Rivera Randy Rowell Peter Saari Patrick Spencer Daniel Swanson Phetsamo Thiravong Bradley Townsend Timothy West Matthew Wray Julian Wynn
33rd Operations Group Ricky Beasley Kaylynn Martin
33rd Operations Support Group Dominick Dellapia Jamie Linwood Lakeishea Williams Laura Yelvington
40th Flight Test Squadron Tamura Godfrey
46th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Heather Acosta Markus Anthny Matthew Cowart Derek Creary Trevor Crittendon Brian Culver Harold Cunningham Shawn Cushman Joshua Devineking Zachary Drahota Jordan Gerlofs Valerie Giampoala Andrew Glidewell David Goldsmith James Hanni Jonathan Harpe Michael Hill Austin Holen Rickurt Jackman Brandon Justics Richard King Michael Langham Bret Lowe Jeremiah McCartney William Merritt Matthew Mingee Thomas Moldenhauer Sidney Moore Wesley Mull William Nelson David Nyman Christine O'Donnell Jonathan Pruitt Matthew Quinn Christopher Riley Jonathan Robinson Bradley Schuster Micheal Scot Reyes Siniff Christopher Stewart Jesse Taska Daniel Thompson Branden Van Matre Rafael Williams
46 Maintenance Operation Squadron Mark Hanna
46th Maintenance Squadron Steven Acevedo Christopher Akin David Alday Nakevin Cain Kylentus Clark Benjamin Dartez Blake Davis David Downing John Flanagan Jeremy Frederick Cameron Hickey Bronson McLain David Meyere Eric Quintana Adam Rohrer Cale Seubert Emmanuel Smith Jeromy Smith Donna Stevens James Stinson Burt Villareal
46th Operations Support Squadron Daisha Bey Raymond Cooper Jamie Hennessey Joshua Lemay Michael Nesladek Tony Schamberger
46th Range Squadron Amanda Seagro
46th Weather Squadron Melit Laurry
58th Fighter Squadron Amanda Fisher Marvin Williams Michelle Ziebell
68th Electronic Warfare Squadron Melanie Nestle Jeremiah Ward
85th Test and Evaluation Squadron Marcus Davis 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron Alexandra Kearney
96th Air Base Wing Arionea Adams Katie Hughes 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Kristian Duff Nancy Martinez Amy Rauch
96th Civil Engineer Group Michael Chavarria Sterling Scales
96th Civil Engineer Squadron Kelly Badger Ali Bueshi Roy Campos Adam Cole Philip Cummings Michael Edwards Shaun Gingerella Isaiah Graham Jordan Gren Aaron Jones Abraham Lara Christopher Lewis Adam Meredith Charles Miles Kalvin Moore Errick Schafer Ronin Sullivan Crystal Yaw
96th Communications Group Ryan Dennis Latoria Glover 96th Communications Squadron Julia Barnes Michael Baustert Bobby Buckalew Rospig De La Torre Michael Fleming John Haraguchi Zachary Hill Matthew Holt Brian Lawton Kendrick Lewis Jesse Peterson Jeremy Phillips Kristy Robinson Marcie Teal Jason West
96th Comptroller Squadron Michelle Goodnight Adrian Johnson Christopher Olson Seneca Shelton
96th Dental Squadron Michael Gray Alpheus Green Audrey Hernandez Sara Kelley Robert Penn
96th Ground Combat Training Squadron Jermaine Morrow Jaclyn Privitera
96th Logistics Readiness Squadron Corey Briggs Michael Clark Raul Diazfunes Kivondra Fagg Edwin Jacobo Michael Jarvis Darryl Leytham Christopher Logue Claudio Moreta Jesse Nantkes Troy Newman William Overton Stefanie Rouse Stephen Soloman Shanell Stephens Anthony Tabano Hyrice Tomlin Leonard Wright
96th Medical Operations Squadron Michael Barnette Mozingo Chavez Tammi Fish Nicole Gillig Zachary Higgins Kristi Kendzierski Alexander Kryvenia Alexander Lee Cassandra Murphy Sabrina Richardson
96th Medical Support Squadron Charmaine Garza Juan Gomez Lluvia Gonzalez Michelle Guzman Maria Jimenez Katrina Madden Laura McKeon Brianna Mullarkey Charles Murphy Kary Stringham Brandi Stupak Karen Sweet Heather Vitolla Jolea Zuber
96th Mission Support Squadron Forrest Jones Michael Whitman
96th Security Forces Squadron Cody Braemer Keith Cleare Charles Coles Keith Corcoran Scott Cousins Angela Dotson Mark Geralesrosen Jonathan Hogue Season Kelt Derrick Kohlenberger David Leal Kathleen Lee Michael McDade Daniel Wanhala
96th Services Squadron Travis Giles Stephanie Harris Olrick Johnson Ryan Leveille John Vickery 96th Surgical Operations Squadron Karen Knight Paul Lilya Jaime Martin Leon Miller Amber Wesolowski
728th Air Control Squadron Kenneth Basaldua Caroline Braddock Justin Centola Reginald Cook Denise Diaz John Driver Dawn Dutcher Melanie Engle Timothy French Jason Gleason Steven Greenwood Garrett Hayes Andrew Heinig Brioan Jessee Bradley Johnson Patrick Johnson Brandon Jones Benjamin Koren Andy Lansdowne Evan Lee Jason Levalley Andrew Lewis Dannielle Lewis John Limon Christopher Lovelady Andrew Miller Renaldo Miller William O'Neal Claudia Paisley Shiloh Pogue Jesse Ready Erika Reynolds Joshua Ritchie Joaquin Rodriguez Antonio Santiago Keith St Laurent Demetrius Townsend Angel Vargas Todd Vetter James Wall
728th Test Squadron Robert Burroughs
796th Civil Engineer Squadron Cesar Alvarado Daniel Jones Jesse Knudtson Adrien Lomax Christopher Looney Carlo Mangoba Ben Nichols Paul Perez Matthew Phillips Tomas Sanchez Derrick Seals Robert Strohmeyer Randy Webster Kyle Whisenhunt Mark Williams 1st Special Operations Maintenance Squadron Alan Cherry Christopher Fairbairn Edward Groves Charles Hamilton Michael Lacy Lane Miller Shawn Riley Gilbert Rubio Michael Smith
9th Special Operations Squadron Michael Brown David Holcombe Joshua Huff Andrew Lewis Kentonis McGee Scott Osteen
16th Electronic Warfare Squadron Jacqueline Barker Lynette Calleiro James Campbell Lowell Edkins Stuart Melton Niicholas Turner Jason Ward
Back to School Safety - 08/18/2007
Air Armament Center Safety Office
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- As summer vacation concludes here on the Emerald Coast, students across several counties are readying themselves for the start of a new school year.
With all of the excitement this time brings, safety is not the first topic that may be discussed between students and parents. The Air Armament Safety Office encourages parents to speak with their children about safety before school begins. Here is why and some topics to help you along.
Getting to school and back home again
· Find an easy, safe way to walk to school or the bus stop. Ask your parents if there is anything you should watch out for along way. Crosswalks, stop lights, crossing guard, speed zones. · Always walk with a brother, sister, neighbor, or friend - sounds just like a Wingman. · Don't talk to strangers, go anywhere with them, or take anything from them.
· Know your phone number and address, even your area code and zip code. If you have trouble remembering them, write them down and keep them in a safe place like a backpack or notebook. Walking and biking to schoolEven if you don't ride to school in a car or a school bus, students must still protect themselves. In walking to and from school without a parent, many young pedestrians face many safety decisions, situations and dangers. Here are a few basic safety tips to follow:
· Mind all traffic signals and/or the crossing guard -- never cross the street against a light, even if you don't see any traffic coming.
· Walk your bike through intersections. · Walk with a buddy. · Wear reflective material if possible...it makes you more visible to street traffic.
· Never walk alone--always travel with a buddy.
· Pay attention to all traffic signals and crossing guards along the way.
Never cross the street against a stop light.
· Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
· Avoid ill-fitting clothing that could get caught in spokes or pedals or restrict movements, and wear reflective colors and material to be more visible to street traffic.
· Walk your bicycle across all intersections. Riding in a car You might have heard before that most traffic crashes occur within a 25-mile radius of home ... that's true, they do.
· Safety belts are the best form of protection passengers have in the event of a crash. They can lower your risk of injury by 45%.
· You are four times more likely to be seriously injured or killed if ejected from the vehicle in a crash.
· Everyone needs to be buckled up properly. That means older kids in seat belts, younger kids in booster seats and little kids in child safety seats.
Riding the bus
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 24 million students nationwide start their school day with a trip on the school bus. Although NHTSA reports that riding on a school bus is nearly eight times safer than riding in a passenger vehicle, an average of 11 school-aged pedestrians are killed by school transportation vehicles each year. In 2006, 26 students were killed and another 9,000 were injured in incidents involving school buses. More often than not, these deaths and injuries didn't occur in a crash, but as the pupils were entering and exiting the bus.
Remember these safety tips:
· Have a safe place to wait for your bus, away from traffic and the street.
· Stay away from the bus until it comes to a complete stop and the driver signals you to enter.
· When being dropped off, exit the bus and walk ten giant steps away from the bus. Keep a safe distance between you and the bus. Also, remember that the bus driver can see you best when you are back away from the bus.
· Use the handrail to enter and exit the bus. · Stay away from the bus until the driver gives a signal that it's okay to approach.
· Be aware of the street traffic around you. Drivers are required to follow certain rules of the road concerning school buses, however, not all do. Protect yourself and watch out!
After school If you stay home alone for a few hours after school while your parents are at work, call and check in with them as soon as you get home. Ask your parents what the rules are. Are you allowed to watch TV before you finish your homework?
But these two are simple rules parents should provide their children who are home alone:
· Keep doors shut: Instead of telling kids not to let a stranger in, the real rule needs to be: Keep the door shut and locked at all times. Don't fill your child's head with "don'ts"; simply tell them to keep all doors closed. If someone comes to the door, your child can communicate with this person through the door.
· Set check-in time: Another thing parents should ask their child to do is call and let Mom or Dad know that she is home safe. Set a consistent time for the child to call each day. Give her 10 minutes plus or minus to allow for a slow bus, etc ... then start to worry if she doesn't meet this deadline. Also, find a close neighbor who is usually home around this time. If the parent can't be reached, the child knows to call this person.
Parents, please remember that kids home alone are much more likely to encounter dangers such as fire from burning popcorn or falling down the stairs than being abducted by a stranger. Parents need to consider some of these issues facing their families and deal with them accordingly. Have a safe and productive school year.
Home to the Air Armament Center - 08/18/2007
Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., serves as the focal point for all Air Force armament. It applies advanced technology, engineering and programming efficiencies across the product life cycle to provide superior combat capability to the warfighter. Eglin's Air Armament Center plans, directs and conducts test and evaluation of armament, navigation, guidance systems, and command and control systems. The 96th Air Base Wing, as the host unit, supports the largest single-base mobility commitment in the Air Force.
The impact for the surrounding area - 08/18/2007
Anticipated BRAC + Non-BRAC population increase for Eglin:
• About 5,000 military, government civilians, students and contractors with the majority arriving in FY10 and FY11
• 87% enlisted, 12% officers, 1% government civilians, and 200+ contractors Estimated overall population increase for Okaloosa County & the surrounding areas:
• Approximately 12,000 (7,000 Eglin family members & 5,000 government and contractor employees) Total potential construction/repair requirements expenditure (BRAC and non-BRAC):
• Estimated $700M+
Details on Establishing the Joint Strike Training Complex - 08/18/2007
Three new missions to come to Eglin – projected in FY10 and FY11 -
Establishing the Initial Joint Strike Fighter Integrated Training Complex.
• Relocate 200 pilot and maintenance instructor positions (BRAC move).
• About 2,200 personnel and 248 contractors will be assigned to
• About 120 student pilots and 668 student maintainers will attend the course on a daily basis. this unit (non-BRAC move).
Relocating the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) from Fort Bragg, N.C.
• Relocate 1,352 active duty positions (BRAC move).
• Army may increase the number to 2,240 active duty members (non-BRAC move). Relocating the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) National Command Region Conventional Armament Research Organization from Fort Belvoir, Va.
• About 36 people (21 government employees; 15 contractors) will be assigned to this organization (BRAC move).
Warning from the Retiree Activites Office - 08/18/2007
Caution! Another non-affliated site ~ An organization called Veterans Affairs Services (VAS) at https://www.vaservices.org/us/ is providing benefit and general information on VA and gathering personal information on veterans.
This organization is not affiliated with VA in any way. VAS may be gaining access to military personnel through their close resemblance to the VA name and seal.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Legal Counsel has requested that military installations be made aware of this group and their lack of affiliation or endorsement by VA to provide any services.
In addition, if you have knowledge of any example of VAS acts that violate Chapter 59 of Title 38 United States Code, such as VAS employees assisting veterans in the preparation and presentation of claims for benefits, please contact your local VA office. Be Aware of myPay Look-a-Like Web Sites ~ DFAS-Denver myPay officials have advised all DoD organizations and members to beware of copycat or look-a-like web sites being developed to make people think they are accessing official sites.
These web sites may use the words "myPay" as part of their web address. Members are advised to use caution against mistakenly providing personal information to copycat, look-a-like, or other web sites that use "myPay" in their web address. While they may be legitimate business concerns, they are not in any way affiliated with DFAS and myPay. The official myPay website is https://mypay.dfas.mil.
Eglin AFB History - 08/18/2007
Spanning five wars, modern-day Eglin evolved from a distant and honorable past. Currently the Air Armament Center tests and evaluates non-nuclear munitions, electronic combat systems and navigation/guidance systems.
For more than sixty-five years and spanning six wars, Eglin has played a prominent role in airpower history. In 1931, personnel of the Army Air Corps Tactical School (Maxwell Field, Alabama) looking for a site for a bombing and gunnery range, saw the potential of the sparsely populated forested areas surrounding Valparaiso, Florida, and the vast expanse of the adjacent Gulf of Mexico.
A local businessman and airplane buff, James E. Plew, saw the potential of a military payroll to boost the depression-stricken economy in the local area. He leased to the City of Valparaiso 137 acres on which an airport was established in 1933, and in 1934, Plew offered the U.S. government a donation of 1,460 contiguous acres for the bombing and gunnery base. This leasehold became the headquarters for the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base activated on 14 June 1935 under the command of Captain Arnold H. Rich. On 4 August 1937, the base was redesignated Eglin Field in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Frederick I. Eglin, U.S. Air Corps, killed on 1 January 1937 in an aircraft crash.
With the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 and President Roosevelt's call for an expansion of the Army Air Corps, General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold ordered the establishment of a proving ground for aircraft armament. Eglin was selected for the testing mission, and on 27 June 1940, the U.S. Forestry Service ceded to the War Department the Choctawhatchee National Forest, consisting of some 384,000 acres. In 1941, the Air Corps Proving Ground was activated, and Eglin became the site for gunnery training for Army Air Forces fighter pilots, as well as a major testing center for aircraft, equipment, and tactics. In March 1942, the base served as one of the sites for Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle to prepare his B-25 crews for their raid against Tokyo.
In addition to testing all new aircraft and their serial modifications, the Proving Ground Command, established at Eglin April 1942, found the isolation and immensity of the ranges especially well-suited for special tasks. For example, in 1944, personnel developed the tactics and techniques to destroy German missile installations being built to support V-1 buzz-bomb attacks on England.
By the end of the war, Eglin had made a recognizable contribution to the effectiveness of the American air operations in Europe and the Pacific and continued to maintain a role in the research, development, and testing of air armament. Eglin also became a pioneer in missile development when, in early 1946, the First Experimental Guided Missiles Group was activated to develop the techniques for missile launching and handling; establish training programs; and monitor the development of a drone or pilotless aircraft capability to support the Atomic Energy Commission tests, Operation CROSSROADS, at Eniwetok. On 13 January 1947, the Guided Missiles Group received nationwide publicity by conducting a successful drone flight from Eglin to Washington, D.C., in a simulated bombing mission.
Both as a reaction to the Soviet atomic explosion in 1949 and in recognition that research and development had lagged in the years of lower priority to operational concerns, the Air Force, in early 1950, established the Air Research and Development Command (later Air Force Systems Command). The following year, the Air Research and Development Command established the Air Force Armament Center at Eglin, which, for the first time, brought development and testing together. After the start of the Korean War in 1950, test teams moved to the combat theater for testing in actual combat. They numbered among their accomplishments improved air-to-air tactics and improved techniques for close air support. On 1 December 1957, the Air Force combined the Air Proving Ground Command and the Air Force Armament Center to form the Air Proving Ground Center.
The Center built the highly-instrumented Eglin Gulf Test Range and for the next few years, served as a major missile test center for weapons such as the BOMARC, Matador, GAM-72 "Quail," and GAM-77 "Hound Dog."
As the Southeast Asia conflict increased emphasis on conventional weapons, the responsibilities at Eglin grew. On 1 August 1968, the Air Proving Ground Center was redesignated the Armament Development and Test Center to centralize responsibility for research, development, test and evaluation, and initial acquisition of nonnuclear munitions for the Air Force. On 1 October 1979, the Center was given division status. The Armament Division, redesignated Munitions Systems Division on 15 March 1989, placed into production the precision-guided munitions for the laser, television, and infrared guided bombs; two anti-armor weapon systems; and an improved hard target weapon used in Operation DESERT STORM during the Persian Gulf War. The Division was also responsible for developing the Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), an Air Force-led joint project with the U.S. Navy.
In addition to its development and testing mission, Eglin also served as the training site for the Son Tay Raiders in 1970, the group that made the daring attempt to rescue American POWs from a North Vietnamese prison camp. In 1975, the installation served as one of four main U.S. Vietnamese Refugee Processing Centers, where base personnel housed and processed more than 10,000 Southeast Asian refugees at the Auxiliary Field Two "Tent City." Eglin again became an Air Force refugee resettlement center processing over 10,000 Cubans who fled to the U.S. between April and May of 1980.
On 11 July 1990, the Munitions Systems Division was redesignated the Air Force Development Test Center. During the 1990s, the Center supported test and evaluation for the development of nonnuclear Air Force armament including next generation precision-guided weapons; operational training for armament systems; and test and evaluation of command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) aerospace navigation and guidance systems.
On 1 October 1998, as part of the Air Forces' strategic plan to guide the service into the 21st Century, the Air Force Development Test Center became the Air Force Materiel Command's Air Armament Center (AAC). As one of AFMC?s product centers, AAC is responsible for development, acquisition, testing, and fielding all air-delivered weapons. AAC applies advanced technology, engineering, and programming efficiencies across the entire product life cycle to provide superior combat capability. The Center plans, directs, and conducts test and evaluation of U.S. and allied air armament, navigation/guidance systems, and command and control (C2) systems and supports the largest single base mobility commitment in the Air Force.
AAC accomplishes its mission through three components: the Air Force Program Executive Office for Weapons with two systems wings and a systems group, the 46th Test Wing, and the 96th Air Base Wing. Recently the AAC provided our warfighters with the munitions and expeditionary combat support to dominate the enemy in Operations ALLIED FORCE, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM. During this time Deparment of Defense, the Air Force, and AFMC presented the Air Armament Center with awards in acquisition, test, and combat support
FIELD ONE: Named after Maj. Walter J. Wagner, who died in an aircraft crash Oct. 10, 1943. He was a former commanding officer for the 1st Proving Ground at Eglin. Today, the area is northeast of Eglin main and identified on many maps as area C-5.
FIELD TWO: Named for Lt. Col. George E. Pierce, who died in an aircraft crash Oct. 19, 1942. He was a former commanding officer of the 1st Proving Ground Torpedo Squadron (Composite) at Eglin. Today, the area is 10 miles north at the East Gate on Highway 285 and is identified on maps as Site C-3. This field was the site of one of the Vietnamese Resettlement Camps in 1975.
FIELD THREE: Named for 1st Lt. Robert L. Duke, who died in an aircraft crash Dec. 29, 1943. He was assigned as an assistant to the Proving Ground of the Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command at Eglin. It was one of the first auxiliary fields built. Today, the area, which is about 12 miles north of the East Gate on Highway 85, is better known as Duke Field. The 919th Special Operations Wing (AFRES) and the 728th Tactical Control Squadron are there.
FIELD FOUR: Named for 2nd Lt. Garland O. Peel Jr., who died in an air crash Jan. 2, 1942. He was a gunnery school instructor at Eglin. Today, the area is just a few miles off Lewis Turner Boulevard on Eglin Road 326, and is the home for a variety of civil engineering and services mobility training programs.
FIELD FIVE: Named for Capt. Anthony D. Piccolo, who died in an aircraft accident Oct. 6, 1942. Piccolo was the commanding officer of the 386th Single Engine Gunnery Training Squadron at Eglin. Today, the area is due north of Field Four and serves as a microwave station. On most base maps, it is identified as Site C-4.
FIELD SIX: Named for 1st Lt. Andrew Biancur, who died in an aircraft accident Jan.8, 1944. He was a test pilot with the Medium Bombardment Section of the 1st Proving Ground Group at Eglin. Today, the area is the site of the U.S. Army 6th Ranger Training Battalion and referred by them as Camp Rudder. It is 23 miles from Eglin Main and was the home of the Federal Prison at one time. It is identified on most base maps at Tab 6, and located just north of area B-12.
FIELD SEVEN: Named for Col. Robin B. Epler, who died in an aircraft crash Jan. 28, 1944. He was a deputy commander (Technical) of the Army Air Forces Proving Ground at Eglin.
FIELD EIGHT: Named for 2nd Lt. Richard E. Baldsiefen, who died in an aircraft crash March 4, 1942. He was a gunnery school instructor at Eglin. Today, the area is in the southeastern portion of the base in a region called Range 52.
FIELD NINE: Named for 1st Lt. Donald W. Hurlburt, who died in an aircraft crash Oct. 2, 1943. He was a member of a fighter section in the 1st Proving Ground at Eglin. This was the largest of the original gunnery ranges. Today, the area is 24 miles from the West Gate on Highway 98. Of the 10 fields, it is one of the two to originally have hangars built. The Air Force Special Operations Command and the 16th Special Operations Wing are here.
FIELD TEN: Named for Capt. Barclay H. Dillon, who died in an aircraft crash Oct.2,1943. Dillon was a member of a fighter section of the 1st Proving Ground Group at Eglin. Today, the area near Field Ten serves primarily as a landing strip for the Navy's basic flight training programs. The Navy calls the field "Choctaw OLF" (Out Lying Field).
Some information on Eglin AFB - 08/18/2007
The 70th Anniversary of Eglin was celebrated on June 14, 2005, and the base's rich history carries a fine tradition of excellence both in the Air Force and in partnership with the local communities.
Eglin is the largest air force bases in the world, covering 724 square miles of reservation and 123,000 square miles of water ranges in the Gulf of Mexico.
Eglin employs approximately 11,000 military and approximately 11,000 civilians.
The Air Force celebrated the beginning of its 60th year September 18th and Airmen, past and present, were honored with a dedication of the Air Force Memorial in Arlington, Virginia October 14th. The 70th Anniversary of Eglin was celebrated on June 14, 2005, and the base's rich history carries a fine tradition of excellence both in the Air Force and in partnership with the local communities.
Climate: The "Emerald Coast" has almost unbeatable weather. Warm, subtropical conditions are prevalent much of the year; however, short-lived periods of colder weather do occur during the winter months. Sunshine and favorable outdoor weather is common. Thunderstorms are reported approximately 90 days out of each year and average precipitation for the area is close to 60 inches.
Seasonal average temperatures are: Jan - Mar: 60-69 High and 42-51 Low Apr - Jun: 76-88 High and 58-72 Low Jul - Sep: 86-89 High and 70-77 Low Oct - Dec: 63-79 High and 44-69 Low This area gets only 50 to 60 days of annual precipitation or more rainfall. There are few days without sunshine which allows year-round outdoor activities.
If driving, take Interstate 10, If coming from the east, exit on Highway 285 at Mossy Head and go south until you reach Highway 20. Make a right turn and stay on 20 until you reach the East Gate. If coming from the west, exit Interstate 10 on Highway 85 at Crestview. Take 85 south until you reach Highway 20; make a right and proceed until you reach the East Gate.
If you are flying, several commercial carriers land at Okaloosa County Airport which is often listed as Eglin AFB. Upon arrival, there is an information center at the airport with directions to the base.
A thank you to the Eglin AFB website for information provided.
All phone numbers have a 850 area code
Eglin AFB Telephone Assistance 882-1113
DSN information below Aero Club 882-5148
Air Force Armament Museum 882-4062
- Museum's Gift Shop 651-5253
Airman & Family Readiness Center 882-9060
Base Exchange 651-2512
Base Finance 882-5441
Base Theater 882-1066
Billeting 882-8761
Bowling Center 882-3352
Beach Recreation Center 244-5378
Chapel 1 882-2112
Chapel 2 882-4811
Child Development Center 882-3861
Commissary 882-3172
Duke Field Club 883-6491
Eglin Eagle 882-3507
Eglin Civilian Personnel 882-3325
Enlisted Club 678-5127
Family Child Care 882-2994
Golf Course 882-2949
Golf Tee Times 729-FORE (729-3673)
Health & Wellness Center 883-8022, 883-8023, 883-8025
Hospital Appointments 883-8600
Hospital Customer Service 883-8213
Hospital Information 883-8242
Housing Information & Referral 882-4533
Housing-Military Family 882-4533
Job Information Line 882-3966
Law Center 882-4611
Library 882-2460
Lodging 882-8761
Lodging Reservations 882-4534
Military Personnel Flight 882-2742
Officer's Club 651-1010
Outdoor Recreation 882-6581
OWCC (Eglin office) 678-1717
Pass & ID 882-3442
Pet Welfare (pet adoption) 678-5066
Pharmacy (Satellite) Information 883-9323
Public Affairs/Media Relations 882-3931
Recreation Center Retiree Activities
Office 882-5916
Space A Flights 882-4757
Skills Development Center 882-5467
Tickets and Tours 882-5930
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