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7th Special Forces Group breaks ground

  • Published
  • By Airman Anthony Jennings
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The beginning of the Army 7th Special Forces Group beddown at Eglin was marked with a groundbreaking ceremony March 26 at the Air Force Armament Museum. 

On Nov. 20, the U.S. Air Force signed the Record of Decision for the implementation of 2005 Base Realignment and Closure decision to realign the Army 7th Special Forces Group to Eglin.

"I think this is going to be the place where everyone wants to go," said Brig. Gen. Michael Repass, U.S. Army Special Forces Command (Airborne) commander. 

The cantonment area at Eglin for the 7th SFG will include operations and maintenance facilities, housing, dining facilities, and munitions storage and loading facilities. The area is located west of Duke Field on Highway 85. 

Accommodations for their training requirements include range space and airspace and scheduling for associated training missions. 

The cantonment area will include facilities for three Special Forces battalions; a motorized Special Forces battalion, a group support battalion, and the group headquarters. Approximately 5.1 million square feet of buildings and hard surfaces will be constructed year through 2011. 

The 7th SFG, an operational unit of the U.S. Army Special Forces, was activated on May 20, 1960. Its purpose was to conduct unconventional operations and train allied armed forces in Central and South America.

The 7th SFG today maintains a continuous presence throughout Central and South America, conducting Special operations missions in support of the U.S. Southern Command's Regional Engagement strategy. Since early 2002, they have also deployed almost nonstop for five rotations to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.