RELEASE NUMBER: 090420-09
DATE POSTED: APRIL 20, 2009
7th SFG(A) Soldiers, Families briefed on upcoming move to Florida
USASOC Public Affairs Office
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (USASOC News Service, April 20, 2009) – The 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) hosted a Base Realignment and Closure information briefing at the Crown Coliseum today to update Soldiers and their Families about the unit’s upcoming move to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., scheduled for 2011.
More than 30 representatives from Eglin AFB also traveled to Fort Bragg, N.C., in order to network with the post’s key agencies and to present 7th SFG(A) members with information about their installation.
“This was the initial relocation information briefing for Soldiers and their Families,” said Col. Mark Gorton, the 7th SFG(A) deputy commanding officer. “We just broke ground on the new cantonment area at Eglin on March 26, and we’re extremely excited. Team Eglin has welcomed us with open arms, and by coming here it shows their commitment to all of us.”
The group’s new home will sit on a 350-acre area on the northern portion of Eglin AFB. The cantonment area will consist of 32 buildings including a medical clinic, dining facility, 25-meter range, three barracks, a physical fitness center and a gas station. It will also include a 12,000-square-foot AAFES Shoppette containing restaurants, Military Clothing Sales, a laundromat and barber.
For training purposes, 7th SFG(A) will have eight “backyard” ranges located just outside the cantonment area’s north gate. These ranges will be solely for the group’s use. Another complex is being built on the eastern side of Eglin where the majority of training will take place.
“There’s no doubt in my mind you will have the absolute best facilities of any Special Forces group,” said Col. Bruce McClintock, the 96th Air Base Wing commander and installation commander for Eglin AFB. “Our number one priority is to take care of you and your families, and we’re doing everything we can to make this move as smooth as possible for you.”
During the briefing, several important topics were discussed pertaining to members of 7th SFG(A), including education, housing and medical. A movement timeline and general information regarding stabilization was also discussed.
As per congressional mandate, the entire group must be relocated by Sept. 15, 2011. The scheduled transitions will be as follows:
- 3rd Battalion – April 11-May 11, 2011
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company/Group Support Battalion – May 11-Sept. 11, 2011
- 2nd Battalion – May 11-June 11, 2011
- 1st Battalion – June 11-July 11, 2011
Soldiers who are serving with the unit on Sept. 15, 2010 and have at least 12 months remaining in their enlistment will be stabilized in their position to take part in the move. Certain considerations can be made if the move from Fort Bragg will cause undue and genuine hardship for the Soldier and their Family.
“The leadership is making every attempt to minimize any potential negative impact the move might have,” said Maj. Tim Chambers, the 7th SFG(A) executive officer. “Northwest Florida holds lots of great opportunities.”
Important to many in the unit, education is a key issue for the group’s, as well as Eglin’s, leadership.
“Because they didn’t have a choice in my service, my first priority has always been, ‘Where will my kids go to school?’” McClintock said.
Kaye McKinley of the Okaloosa County School District was present to calm any concerns Families may have.
“Out of 67 school districts in Florida, Okaloosa is ranked number one,” she said. “Our graduation rate is 90.5 percent, while the rest of the state is around 70 percent.”
Florida also holds incentives for students who graduate from high school in the state. Through various state scholarships, students can have between 75 and 100 percent of their college tuition and books paid for. Other institutions in Okaloosa County, known as CHOICE Institutes, will grant students college credit while attending high school, as well as offering them a chance to earn a nationally-accredited industry certification, such as a private pilot’s license.
Another issue important to Families is housing. Kathy Lawhon from Eglin’s Housing Office assured Families that they will be able to meet all of the group’s housing needs. One key piece of information she mentioned was the fact that on-base housing on Eglin is on a first-come, first-served basis according to a Families housing needs, for example, the number of bedrooms needed.
Also, she let Families know the Basic Allowance for Housing for Eglin exceeds what they are receiving for Fort Bragg, though the average cost of rental properties is slightly less, around $950 a month for a home or $500 a month for an apartment. Three residential areas have been listed as the best locations for members of 7th SFG(A) to live should they reside off-base: Crestview, Niceville and Fort Walton Beach. Each are between a 20-45 minute drive from the group’s area on Eglin.
Other general information presented about the area is the crime rate in Okaloosa County is half that of Cumberland County, and the unemployment rate is one-third of the rate here. The average income is 27 percent higher than in Cumberland County, and there is no state income tax in Florida.
“You’re not moving tomorrow, you’re moving in two years,” McClintock said. “So we want you to use this time to get prepared. This move and making 7th Group a part of our team is very important to us.”
McClintock invited Soldiers and their Families to visit the Eglin AFB website at www.eglin.af.mil to familiarize themselves with the base. There is a special 7th SFG(A) section along the right side of the page, which includes a newcomer’s guide and frequently asked questions.
“If any of you have questions, I invite you to use the Commander’s Action Line on the main page of the site to email me personally,” McClintock said. “We will answer any questions you have about the move.”
For more information about Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and the surrounding areas, visit the sites below:
www.eglin.af.mil – Eglin AFB
www.eglinservices.com – Eglin’s 96th Services Squadron (MWR)
www.okaloosaschools.com – Okaloosa County School District
www.welcometonorthwestflorida.com – Site dedicated to 7th SFG(A) relocation to Eglin
(External Links Disclaimer - The appearance of hyperlinks to external sites does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the U.S. Army of the linked web site or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized activities such as military exchanges and Morale, Welfare and Recreation sites, the Department of the U.S. Army does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. Such links are provided consistent with the stated purpose of this DoD web site.)
--usasoc--