Avon Park, community partner for future

  • Published
  • By Andrea Thacker
  • 23 Wing Public Affairs
Avon Park Air Force Range, Fla. --  The 23rd Wing commander met with Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll and other government and civilian partners to see and discuss the future use of Avon Park Air Force Range, Fla. Aug. 2, 2011.

The daylong event gave a first-hand look at APAFR and its mission. Briefings highlighted the need for protection of conservation lands to buffer military installations from future developments that may impact base operations and threaten the natural habitats that exist on base.

"We learned so much and saw more than we imagined possible," said Deborah Keller, The Nature Conservancy senior policy representative. "We experienced the grandeur of the Air Force's strength, the natural beauty of the range, the ranchlands, and the people who make Avon Park Air Force Range a very special place.

"Base buffering with conservation lands protects current and future training missions, sustains the defense and agricultural economies of the region and provides for water quality and quantity for central and south Florida," she added.

The briefers highlighted the need for permanent protection of buffers around the base that would provide conservation corridors for wildlife and protect the rare natural habitats of central Florida. In addition, these buffers could minimize incompatible development around APAFR that could constrain the ability to fly low altitude missions, perform low-ambient light activities, and expend explosive ordnance, which constitute over 50 percent of current and future missions at APAFR.

During the day, the 23rd Wing Detachment 1 commander Lt. Col. Charles MacLaughlin showcased the training capabilities and the diverse ecosystems that coexist on base.

Visitors had the opportunity to view the A-10C Thunderbolt II in action on the range, see several natural habitats found in few other places and they also learned how the staff manages natural habitats to protect the unique biodiversity.

With 106,000 acres, APAFR is Air Combat Command's largest air-to-ground and ground-to-ground training facility east of the Mississippi River.

To fully understand the immense size of the range, members of 41st Rescue Squadron gave guests an aerial tour aboard an HH-60G Pave Hawk. The governor and other guests witnessed firsthand the openness available for military training. They also saw areas where developments that may restrict the base's missions are occurring and where opportunities to buffer APAFR exist.

"It was wonderful to physically see the full range and magnitude of land and witness firsthand the partnership between the base, TNC and the community," said Carroll. "It gave me a better understanding of the functions and benefits of the range and its importance to military training.

"This is a well-kept secret," she added. "This base is essential to preparing military members to go into theater and execute the mission flawlessly."

The sheer size of the range, variety of natural habitats and the large amount of restricted air space offers realistic and unique training not available anywhere else in the country.

"The range has been active since World War II and we try to use every square inch of property we have, said MacLaughlin. " If we as an Air Force do not take care of the property we train on, we will lose that capability. It's in our best interest to protect the biodiversity and natural habitats here at Avon Park."

Lt. Governor Carroll commended the APAFR staff for their land management and stressed the importance of educating state and federal legislation on the impact APAFR has on military training.

"It's crucial for all supporters of Avon Park to collaborate and work together to ensure encroachment doesn't become a factor," said the Governor Carroll. "It is important to make state leaders aware of how active this range is while highlighting the importance of protecting the ecosystems and the natural habitats of certain species that only exist on APAFR. Permanent protection of base buffers to minimize conflicts is needed."

Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative and Enterprise Florida Defense Infrastructure Grants recognized APAFR as a significant and vitally important military range by awarding $2 million in funds to begin the permanent protection of its borders and military operating airspace.

"Nature's defense for National defense - The event was a wonderful way to stress the partnership and leadership needed to keep our bases and our natural areas intact," said Keller. "They need our collective efforts to protect it."