Community leaders visit Tyndall

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kirsten Wicker
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  More than 30 community leaders attended a briefing concerning the arrival of an additional F-22 Raptor squadron to Tyndall Feb. 8.

The briefing, given by 325th Fighter Wing vice commander, Col. Mark L. O'Laughlin, addressed an array of topics such as additional personnel, aircraft and equipment being relocated to the base, what preparations are being made in construction and land use.

"The briefing was valuable to us because we need to understand what's going to be going on here, bringing the F-22s to Tyndall," said Lynn Haven mayor Walter Kelley.  "As a leader in our community, I want to make sure that we can give them all the support that they need so they can become citizens of Bay County and be part of our community. I think the new squadron will affect us a lot because we need to create jobs and they will bring jobs here and all these new people will be a part of the community financially, so it will be a plus for the whole community; it's a good thing."

The purpose of briefing community leaders was to keep them informed of the changes the base is currently undergoing, the projected changes in the year ahead, fiscal responsibility and environmental protection.

"This briefing gave us a high-level view of the F-22s coming from Holloman [Air Force Base, N.M.] and the families who will be arriving and the impact of the capital expenditures the military is spending to accommodate that," said Mr. Al McCambry, Military Affairs Committee chairman. "Many of the leaders here are seeing the big picture and they have an idea of what this impact will be on their respective areas."

Leaders agree the briefing is valuable to them as they prepare their communities for the arrival of more people and aircraft to Bay County.

"Now I think they'll be able to talk about the subject a little bit better. I think the new squadron is going to affect the community very positively," Mr. McCambry said. "The county, in my opinion, does a great job of welcoming the military. We have a huge appreciation for what the military does and as the military affairs chairman I really want to pound that home as much as possible because they [military members] do a great job."