Editing Eglin Air Force Base (section)

==Role and operations==
Eglin is an [[Air Force Materiel Command]] (AFMC) base serving as the focal point for all Air Force armaments. Eglin is responsible for the development, acquisition, testing, deployment and sustainment of all air-delivered non-nuclear weapons.

The base plans, directs, and conducts test and evaluation of U.S. and allied air armament, navigation and guidance systems, and [[command and control]] systems.

Severe-weather testing of aircraft and other equipment is carried out here at the [[McKinley Climatic Laboratory]].

The residential portion of the base is a [[census-designated place]]; its population was 8,082 at the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 census]]. Eglin Air Force Base had 2,359 military family housing units. Unmarried junior enlisted members generally live in one of Eglin's seven dormitories located near the dining hall, chapel, base gym, enlisted club, and bus lines on base. Each individual unit generally handles dormitory assignments. Bachelor Officer Quarters are not available. Several units and one dormitory were being renovated in 2011. The base covers 463,128 acres (1,874.2&nbsp;km{{sup|2}} / 723.6 sqm).<ref>{{cite journal|date=Winter 2006|title=Organization Facilities|url=http://www.af.mil/news/airman/0106/facilities06.shtml|journal=Airman the Book|publisher=United States Air Force|volume=L|issue=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060320105653/http://www.af.mil/news/airman/0106/facilities06.shtml|archive-date=20 March 2006}}</ref>

===Major units===
====[[96th Test Wing]] (96 TW)====
The 96 TW is the test and evaluation wing for Air Force air-delivered weapons, navigation and guidance systems, command and control (C2) systems, and Air Force Special Operations Command systems. The Eglin Gulf Test Range provides approximately {{convert|130000|sqmi|km2|order=flip}} of over water airspace. The 96 TW supports other tenant units on the installation with traditional military services as well as all the services of a small city, to include civil engineering, personnel, logistics, communications, computer, medical, security. The 96 TW reports to the [[Air Force Test Center]] at [[Edwards AFB]].

====[[33d Fighter Wing]] (33 FW)====
[[File:A 33rd Fighter Wing F-35A takes off Feb. 27 (32546021443).jpg|alt=A F-35A Lightning II of the 33rd Fighter Wing takes off to conduct sorties at Eglin Air Force Base during 2017.|left|thumb|A [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35A Lightning II]] of the [[33rd Fighter Wing]] takes off to conduct sorties at Eglin Air Force Base in 2017.]]

The 33d FW "Nomads" is the largest tenant unit at Eglin. The 33 FW is a joint graduate flying and maintenance training wing for the [[F-35 Lightning II]], organized under Air Education and Training Command's 19th Air Force. First established as the 33d Pursuit Group, the wing's contribution to tactical airpower during its 50-year history has been significant with participation in campaigns around the world, while flying various fighter aircraft. Reactivated at Eglin on 1 April 1965 with [[F-4 Phantom II|F-4C Phantom II]]s, the wing operated, successively, F-4D and E models into the 1970s before transitioning to the [[F-15 Eagle]]. As of 1 October 2009, the 33d FW transitioned to a training wing for the new F-35. The final F-15s assigned to the 33d departed the base in September 2009.<ref>Franks, Staff Sgt. Bryan, 33d Fighter Wing Public Affairs, "First of the F-15C Eagles fly away", ''The Eglin Dispatch'', [[Northwest Florida Daily News]], Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 11 June 2008, Vol. 2, No. 28, p. 2.</ref> As the first of its kind in the [[Department of Defense]], the joint wing is responsible for F-35 pilot and maintainer training for the Air Force, [[USMC|Marine Corps]] and the Navy. The first of 59 F-35s arrived from [[Lockheed Martin Aeronautics|Lockheed Martin Fort Worth]], Texas on 14 July 2011.<ref name="nwfdailynews">[http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/eglin-41818-first-afb.html First F-35 arrives at Eglin Air Force Base | eglin, first, afb – Northwest Florida Daily News] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016155500/http://www.nwfdailynews.com/articles/eglin-41818-first-afb.html |date=16 October 2015 }}. Nwfdailynews.com (14 July 2011). Retrieved on 31 October 2011.</ref>

=====[[58th Fighter Squadron]]=====
The 58th FS "Mighty Gorillas" are authorized to operate 24 assigned F-35A aircraft, planning and executing a training curriculum in support of USAF and international partner pilot training requirements. The F-35A is a [[conventional take-off and landing]], [[Stealth technology|low-observable]], [[multirole combat aircraft|multi-role]] fighter aircraft, designed with [[Fifth-generation fighter|5th-generation]] sensors and weapons, and is able to perform [[air superiority]], [[air interdiction]] and [[close air support]] missions. The F-35A made its first flight on 15 December 2006.

====[[53d Wing]] (53 WG)====
[[File:AGM-84 Harpoon carried by an F-16.jpg|thumb|May 1992 air-to-air view of an [[F-16 Fighting Falcon]] equipped with an [[AGM-84 Harpoon]] all-weather anti-ship missile over Eglin Air Force Base. Note Air Force Systems Command badge on vertical fin.|alt=]]The 53 WG is headquartered at Eglin and serves as the USAF's focal point for operational test and evaluation of armament and avionics, aircrew training devices, chemical defense, aerial reconnaissance improvements, electronic warfare systems, and is responsible for the [[F-4 Phantom II|QF-4 Phantom II]] Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) program and subscale drone programs (located at [[Tyndall AFB]], Florida). The wing tests every fighter, bomber, unmanned aerial vehicle, and associated weapon system in the Air Force inventory. The wing reports to the [[United States Air Force Warfare Center ]] at [[Nellis Air Force Base]], [[Nevada]], a Direct Reporting Unit (DRU) to Headquarters, [[Air Combat Command]] (ACC).

=====[[49th Test and Evaluation Squadron]] (49 TES) =====
The 49 TES is attached to the 53d Wing but located at [[Barksdale Air Force Base]], Louisiana. The squadron plans, executes and reports ACC's weapon system evaluation programs for bombers ([[B-52]], [[B-1 Lancer|B-1]] and [[B-2 Spirit|B-2]]) and nuclear-capable fighters ([[F-15E Strike Eagle]] and [[F-16]]). These evaluations include operational effectiveness and suitability, command and control, performance of aircraft hardware and software systems, employment tactics, and accuracy and reliability of associated precision weapons. These weapons include [[air-launched cruise missile]]s, [[standoff missile]]s, and [[Unguided bomb|gravity bombs]]. Results and conclusions support acquisition decisions and development of war plans. The unit also performs operational testing on new systems and tactics development for the B-52.

==== Armament Directorate ====
The Armament Directorate located at Eglin is responsible for management of air and ground dominance weapon system programs. Led by the Air Force Program Executive Officer for Weapons, the directorate concurrently reports to the Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Washington, D.C., and the [[Air Force Life Cycle Management Center]], Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.{{buzzword|date=April 2014}}

====[[Air Force Research Laboratory]] Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW)====
AFRL/RW develops, demonstrates, and transitions science and technology for air-launched munitions for defeating ground fixed, mobile/relocatable, air and space targets to assure pre-eminence of U.S. air and space forces. The directorate conducts basic research, exploratory development, and advanced development and demonstrations. It also participates in programs focused on technology transfer, dual-use technology and small business development.

====[[7th Special Forces Group (United States)|7th Special Forces Group]] (7th SFG)====
In 2011, the [[United States Army]]'s 7th Special Forces Group relocated to a newly constructed cantonment on the Eglin Air Force Base reservation from [[Fort Liberty|Fort Bragg]], as part of the [[Base Realignment and Closure, 2005|2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round]] realigning Fort Bragg. It is tasked with conducting special operations in Latin America.

===Tenant units===
Tenant units at an Air Force installation are units which have a mission that is significantly different from that of the host unit, and rely heavily upon the host unit for day-to-day operations (sewer, power, security, recreation).

====[[Ranger School|6th Ranger Training Battalion]] (6th RTB)====
Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field No. 6 ([[Biancur Field]]) is the site of Camp [[James Earl Rudder|James E. Rudder]] and the home of the U.S. Army's 6th Ranger Training Battalion. The 6th RTB conducts the final phase of the U.S. Army [[Ranger School|Ranger Course]]. The entire course is 61 days long and is divided into three phases. Each phase is conducted at different geographical and environmental locations.

====[[20th Space Control Squadron]] (20 SPCS)====
[[File:AN-FPS-85 radar aerial view.jpg|alt=Buildings housing the 20th Space Control Squadron's AN/FPS-85 phased array radar at Eglin Air Force Base Site C-6.|left|thumb|Buildings housing the [[20th Space Control Squadron]]'s [[AN/FPS-85]] [[phased array]] [[radar]] at Eglin Air Force Base Site C-6]]

The mission of the 20 SPCS is to detect, track, identify, and report near Earth and deep space objects in Earth's orbit, and provide space object identification data in support of [[United States Space Command]]'s space control mission. A unit of the [[United States Space Force]] (USSF), the men and women of the 20th SPCS operate and maintain the AN/FPS-85 radar, the Space Force's only phased-array radar dedicated to tracking Earth-orbiting objects.

====[[323 Squadron RNLAF]]====
[[Royal Netherlands Air Force]] Operational Test and Evaluation squadron, operates 2 [[F-35A]]

====[[486th Flight Test Squadron]] (486th FLTS)====
This unit, which is apparently not a test squadron at all, operates [[Boeing C-32]]Bs in discrete missions for the [[United States Department of State]]'s [[Foreign Emergency Support Team]].

====[[919th Special Operations Wing]] (919 SOW)====
The 919 SOW, located about {{convert|5|mi|km|abbr=off|sp=us|spell=in}} south of Crestview and {{convert|20|mi|km|order=flip}} from Eglin main at Eglin AFB Auxiliary Field No. 3 ([[Duke Field]]) and is the only special operations wing in the [[Air Force Reserve Command]] (AFRC). In wartime or a contingency, the 919 SOW reports to [[Air Force Special Operations Command]] (AFSOC) at [[Hurlburt Field]], Florida, its gaining major command.

====AFOTEC Det 2====
The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center stood up Detachment 2 at Eglin to provide realistic operational testing for new and modified weapon systems.
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[[File:US Navy 061031-N-9769P-356 Quartermaster 2nd Class Clayton Hatton prepares an explosive charge used in rendering unexploded ordnance safe to handle.jpg|alt=An explosive charge is prepared to be used for rendering unexploded ordnance safe to handle at the Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal.|thumb|An explosive charge is prepared to be used for rendering [[unexploded ordnance]] safe to handle at the Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal.]]

====Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal ([[Bomb disposal|EOD]])====
The Naval School of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD) is a Navy-managed command, jointly staffed by Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps personnel. NAVSCOLEOD opened its new consolidated training facility in April 1999.

====Joint Assessment Division (JAD)====
Directorate of the [[Joint Staff]], JAD (formerly the [[Joint Deployable Analysis Team]]) conducts field analysis of CJADC2 [[Command and control|C2]] information systems and procedures producing decision-quality data to improve Joint C2 integration and interoperability.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eglin.af.mil/Units/Joint-Assessment-Division/|title= Jdat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616124735/http://www.eglin.af.mil/jdat.asp|archive-date=16 June 2011|url-status=live|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref>

===Scheduled airline service===
Eglin is also one of the few military air bases in the U.S. to have scheduled passenger airline service as the [[Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport]] (VPS) is co-located on the base property.