MacDill AFB
Since its establishment in 1941, MacDill Air Force Base (AFB) has been a vital part of America’s defense and an important location for training those that keep America safe. MacDill has been responsible for training pilots on some of America’s newest and most renowned aircraft from the P-51 Mustang in the 1940′s, to the F-4 Phantom in the 1960′s, to the F-16 Fighting Falcon in the 1980′s, and has shown its strategic importance during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Operation Desert Storm, operations in Haiti, Somalia and Afghanistan, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the Global War on Terrorism. MacDill also played a significant role in humanitarian assistance to southern Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew and is the command headquarters for the annual joint-service BRIGHT STAR training exercise.
Currently, MacDill AFB is the home base of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), the Joint Communications Support Element (JCSE), the 6th Air Mobility Wing and over 40 other tenant units. It is no accident these vital units have chosen MacDill AFB as the home to the highly-trained personnel that make up these joint-service, multinational units that protect our nation, our allies and the civilized world. With a massive investment made into state-of-the-art facilities such as the new General Ben B. Davis Conference Center, MacDill possesses the assets necessary to plan, coordinate and execute missions against any and all current and future enemies.
Due to its unique geography, excellent security, premiere facilities, and its proximity to training areas, interstate highways and deepwater ports, MacDill AFB is ideal for joint air, land and sea training. For example, MacDill is a valuable training area for local National Guard and Reserve units. In fact, the Tampa Naval Reserve Center recently decided to relocate to the base. With one of the longest runways in the Air Force, MacDill AFB is capable of hosting any number and/or type of aircraft, and was recently chosen as an alternate landing site for any future space shuttle missions; a major cost-saving alternative to the California location. The base is also home to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) fleet of weather tracking and research aircraft.
Only minutes from Downtown Tampa , MacDill AFB and the local business community have shared a symbiotic relationship that spans decades. This relationship results in a $6.7-billion economic impact on the Tampa Bay area that ultimately contributes to the community’s support of the base. Memorandums of Understanding exist regarding spousal training, employment, usage of recreational facilities, and sharing of police, fire and security training, reducing base costs and enhancing services for those stationed at MacDill. Also, The City of Tampa is currently executing a Joint Land Use Study with the base to minimize future issues relating to land use, air zoning, encroachment and protection of the environment. This outstanding support has led to the Tampa Bay area being the only metropolitan area to win the Abiline Award twice for best community support of an Air Mobility Command installation.
As important as MacDill AFB is to our nation’s security, it is also an intrinsic part of the Tampa Bay community. Located on the southern peninsular tip of Tampa, military personnel and their families stationed at MacDill enjoy easy access to affordable housing, excellent public schools, recreational areas, two major universities, several sporting complexes, cultural venues, and an overall quality-of-life that is essential to recruiting and retention. Because of its excellent weather, relatively low cost-of-living, wide array of leisure options and close proximity to the medical and service facilities at MacDill AFB, more than 130,000 veterans have made the Tampa Bay area their home including over 150 retired general officers. And, with one of the lowest unemployment rates of any major Florida metropolitan area, Tampa Bay offers the spouses of service members ample job opportunities in a diversified economy with continuous job growth.
The Tampa Bay area can claim many firsts, and can add another now that it has become the only community twice awarded the prestigious Abilene Trophy. For the second time in four years, the Air Mobility Command community support award was given to the Bay area for its service and support of MacDill. Tampa received the award in 2001 and is the only community to receive it twice. The Military Affairs Committee of Abilene, Texas, and AMC established the annual award in January 1999 to recognize a civilian community for outstanding support to a nearby AMC installation.
MacDill Air Force Base:
- Strategically important as its location allows for effective deployment of aircraft and troops to the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean Basin.
- Home of CENTCOM, SOCOM and other joint-service forces that conduct operations at home and overseas to keep America safe.
- Possesses the planning, intelligence, training and communications facilities needed to conduct joint service operations and to satisfy contingency, mobilization and total force requirements well into the future.
- Airfield and logistics support are ideal for stationing any of America’s current or planned aircraft and has been selected as an alternate landing site for future Space Shuttle missions.
- A vital and cost-effective training area for Tampa Bay area National Guard and Reserve units.
- An annual economic impact of over $6.5-billion on the Tampa Bay area annually.
- Supported by a high quality-of-life for service personnel and their families, with excellent schools, recreational facilities, cultural venues.
- The Tampa Bay area’s diversified economy and continuous job growth offers excellent opportunities for spousal and retiree employment.
- A close partnership with the Tampa Bay area that allows a mutually beneficial relationship on such issues as the environment, land and airspace use, sharing of public services, job training and placement, and housing.
