PWTM: Eglin Air Force Base
One of the most challenging aspects of military spouse life is preparing for an upcoming PCS or if you get the chance, potentially picking a new duty station. There is a lot of information out there, and it can be almost overwhelming.
We here at Army Wife Network want to take some of the guesswork out of the need-to-knows about duty stations around the globe. Hence, our Post With the Most series. In this particular blog, we will be showcasing information related to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in Northwest Florida in Okaloosa County, comprising 640 square miles. Eglin is a major tourist attraction because of its white sand beaches and situation near Fort Walton Beach. It is only 60 miles from Pensacola and 65 miles from Panama City Beach.
The host unit at Eglin is the 96th Test Wing, and it is the test and evaluation center for Air Force air-delivered weapons, navigation and guidance systems, Command and Control systems, and the Air Force Special Operations Command systems.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Eglin Air Force Base is home to the following units:
- 6th Ranger Training Battalion
- 7th Special Forces Group
- 33rd Fighter Wing
- 53rd Wing
- 96th Test Wing
- 919th Special Operations Wing
- Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate
- Armament Directorate
- Joint Deployable Analysis Team
- Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Surrounding Cities:
- Fort Walton Beach (6 miles)
- Niceville (8 miles)
- Destin (13 miles)
Closest MAJOR City: Pensacola (48 miles)
Names of Area Colleges:
- Northwest Florida State College in Niceville
- Pensacola State College in Pensacola
- The University of West Florida in Pensacola
Weather: The longer-than-average summers are subtropical, hot, and oppressive, and the winters are short, cold, and windy. It is wet and partly cloudy year-round with the rainiest month being April. Average annual rainfall is anywhere between 25 and 60 inches. The hot season lasts from May through September with an average high of 84 degrees. The cold season ranges from the beginning of December through the beginning of March with temperatures rarely below 30 degrees.
Time Zone: Central Time Zone
SPECIFIC POST INFORMATION
To access the post website, click here.
Historical Facts/Landmarks: Much of the base was part of the Choctawhatchee National Forest until the National Forestry Service ceded more than 34,000 acres to the War Department after the start of WWII in 1940. At its peak during World War II, Eglin Air Force base employed 1,000 officers, 10,000 enlisted personnel, and 4,000 civilians. After the war, the base became a pioneer in developing techniques for missile launching and handling. Eglin Air Force base also houses the Bob Hope Village, the only retirement facility that caters to enlisted military with residents paying below market value for one of 256 independent apartments.
There are two National Historic Landmark Districts in the area: The Camp Pinchot Historic District, which is located approximately a half mile north of Fort Walton Beach, and Eglin Field Historic District, also located near Fort Walton Beach.
HOUSING
On-post Housing is managed by Corvias.
Major realty/rental companies in the area:
SCHOOLS
School Districts:
- Okaloosa County School District
- Santa Rosa County District Schools
- Brewton City Schools
- Escambia County School District
On-Post Schools
- Elementary: Eglin Elementary (K-4th)
- Middle: None on post
Off-Post Schools: Because the districts are large, we haven’t listed every school in the area. Please click on the district name below to go to a link with the complete elementary list. Alternative schools are run by certain districts, so you will see additional options on the district websites.
- Elementary: Okaloosa County School District list, Santa Rosa School District list, Brewton Elementary School (K-4th), and Escambia School District list.
- Middle: Okaloosa County School District list, Santa Rosa School District list, Brewton Middle School (5th-8th), and Escambia School District list.
- High School: Okaloosa County School District list, Santa Rosa School District list, T.R. Miller High School (9th-12th), and Escambia School District list.
- Private/Charter: Okaloossa County School District list, Calvary Christian Academy and Preschool (PreK-12th), Emerald Coast Christian School (K-8th), and Rocky Bayou Christian School- Niceville Campus (Pre-K-12th).
ON-POST SERVICES
- Child and Youth Services school-age care and Child Development Centers
- Airmen & Family Readiness Center
- PX
- Commissary
- Eglin Air Force Base Library
- Eglin Air Force Base Hospital
- MWR
- Eglin Spouses’ Club
- Chaplain & Religious Services/Organizations
OFF-POST INFORMATION
Health Care:
- Hospital: Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville and North Okaloosa Medical Center in Okaloosa
- Urgent Care: White-Wilson Immediate Care Clinic in Fort Walton Beach and Florida Urgent and Family Care in Niceville.
- General Practitioners: White-Wilson Family Medicine in Fort Walton Beach
- Dentist: Aspen Dental in Fort Walton Beach and Complete Health Dentistry of the Emerald Coast in Shalimar
Best place for beauty services:
- Chatterbox Salon (full service salon) in Fort Walton Beach
- Spa LaLa Day Spa and Salon (full service spa and salon) in Niceville
- Salon Couture (full service hair salon) in Destin
RESTAURANTS
Fort Walton Beach:
Niceville:
MUST DO
Fort Walton Beach:
- Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park
- Air Force Armament Museum
- Emerald Coast Science Center
- Wild Willy’s Adventure Zone
Niceville:
Destin:
SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Army Wife Network does not promote or endorse these groups; however, we know they can be helpful in learning about various duty stations, so they are provided for your convenience.
Installation Facebook page: Eglin Air Force Base
Military Spouse Groups:
Buy/Sell/Trade Pages:
Religious services:
