Residents identified for new dorms

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • 96th ABW Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The landscape of Eglin Boulevard is rapidly changing as three new dormitories take shape on the east side of the base. As the April completion date looms, the pressing question is "who will be the new residents?" 

The command chiefs from the wings here selected a working group of first sergeants to answer that question. Airmen from the 96th Security Forces Squadron and the 96th Civil Engineer Squadron will be the first residents in the 144 rooms. 

Chief Master Sgt. Katherine Barrino, 33rd Fighter Wing Operations Group and former first sergeant, said every squadron was considered. She said everyone was well aware of the selection impact as a morale boost. The deliberations were thorough, tedious and taken very seriously. 

"We did mathematical equations to look at the numbers and see what the best fit was," the chief said. "We considered who moved recently, the conditions of existing dorms, and the numbers in each squadron." 

Senior Master Sgt. Brendan Ryan, 96th Civil Engineer Group's first sergeant was another member of the working group. He said several factors were the basis for the consolidated recommendation that went forward to the command chiefs and ultimately senior leadership. They were wing/group integrity, occupancy rates, bay orderly duties, multiple moves, cost of moves and the space available. Based on the working group's recommendation and no opposing discussion at the Quarters Improvement Committee Col. Bruce McClintock, 96th Air Base Wing commander, designated 96 SFS and 96 CEG to occupy the new dorms. 

"We discussed giving everyone a piece of the pie, but that made it difficult to decide who would get the dorms," Sergeant Ryan said. "Ops tempo wasn't a consideration because everyone has that across the board. There was discussion on who was most deserving, but at the end of the day, everyone is deserving," he said. 

According to housing manager Kathy Lawhon, 96th Civil Engineer Group Housing Flight Chief, the new dorms are in a quad with each room having a private bedroom and bath with a shared living area. The units will also have stackable washers and dryers. Ms. Lawhon said Airmen are already being identified for each room because many of those moving will deploy in the fall. They will return to a new room once their tour is complete. 

And while some Airmen might be disappointed that they were not on the top of the list to move, Ms. Lawhon said there are plans for more replacement dorms. Eglin continues to compete for dormitory construction dollars to improve quality of life for Eglin Airmen.