Team Eglin Warriors visit Florida Senate, discuss commitment to service

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Servicemembers assigned to Florida military installations traveled to the state Senate to discuss lifestyles and how personal lives are affected by military commitments.

Nearly 60,000 active-duty military are housed on bases within the borders of Florida, so many topics discussed at the meeting centered on quality of life issues as well as the recent surge in deployment operations.

Team Eglin Warriors who visited the State Senate ranged in career fields, deployed experiences, rank and branch of service. All were humbled with their selection to attend the event.

"It was an honor to carry the military message forward to the Florida Senate," said Capt. Robert Carden, 687th Air Armament Systems Squadron.

"I was excited to be a participant in bringing awareness to the Florida Senate on the collage of uniforms and uniquely diverse units that make up Team Eglin," added Master Sgt. Timothy Thoner, Air Force Reserves, 919th Special Operations Squadron.

Of the two-dozen Airmen who attended, many are recent returnees from deployments supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Col. Arnold Bunch, Air Armament Center vice commander, and Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander, discussed missions conducted here as well as quality-of-life issues that directly affect not only the servicemembers but their dependents as well.

"It's rare that state legislators have a chance to meet first-hand warriors who are fighting our nation's wars and sacrificing for out greater good," the Colonel Bunch said.

While the colonels have long and distinguished careers serving both stateside and abroad in deployed environments, it is the Warrior perspective that best defines the current atmosphere among the servicemembers.

"Our Warriors' memories can provide an example of first-hand experiences that (Airmen) face which are directly related to the military lifestyle," Colonel McClintock said. "I felt a great responsibility to accurately and forcibly represent their service achievements and challenges."

The Airmen described their experiences that make up their daily lives - and the senators listened.

"The senators were very engaged and impressed with our Warriors and their achievements," the colonel said. "They were sincerely interested in ways to make changes to help our servicemembers."

Likewise, the senators took to heart what the Warriors had to say and are taking steps to help ease their burden and the one on their families.

"Our senators were very impressed with the presentation made yesterday, and many are eager to get to work on solutions to problems that were raised at the meeting," said Susan Skelton, Staff Director of Florida Senate Committee on Military Affairs and Domestic Security. "My committee chair, Dave Aronberg, has already tasked us with looking into possible legislation related to the licensing reciprocity, child care reimbursement eligibility criteria and high school student class credit portability issues."

Team Eglin Warriors traveled to Tallahassee hoping to paint a picture of military life. They returned with the knowledge that their words will possibly help shape the future.

"The Florida Senators seemed to have a great deal of respect for us prior to the visit but they may not have seen the important role that they could play to assist in the overall Department of Defense mission success," Sergeant Thorner said. "I believe this meeting definitely opened the eyes of Senators to unique circumstances within the military family and how they can positively assist in easing the burden on (them)."