defense intel The Reaper House Tour by: Brandi DeRuiter, Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Bay County Chamber of Commerce
Civic Leader Trip to Holloman Air Force Base
Results from a United States Air Force Culture and Process Im-
Efforts to create safer environments for our men and women in uni-
provement Program survey confirmed a clear need for those mil-
form while achieving peak air combat success rates are creating a
itary bases in desirable locations to host MQ-9 Reaper crews. In
high demand for Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA).
2017, after many months of study, Tyndall AFB was selected as the
These unmanned aircraft are also gentler on the taxpayer’s pock-
scale included Bay County’s many resources and activities as well as
etbook and assist with creating higher success rates for traditional
the community’s long history of dedicated support to Tyndall AFB.
fighter jets. One type of RPA, the MQ-9 Reaper, carries a massive 3,750 pound payload complete with laser guided bombs and missiles, has state of the art camera systems that can clearly zoom in on a bush from miles away and has a 1,150 mile range cruise capability.
The incoming MQ-9 Reaper wing will be a brand new operational wing bringing in 24 RPA’s and 1,600 military personnel. Realistically this number may be closer to 4,000 men, women and children moving into the area when adding in the family multiplier (2.5) for military personnel. Additionally, the job multiplier effect (.29 for
Although this is a relatively new and rapidly growing mission requiring trained and proficient military personnel, quality of life issues in
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preferred location for the new basing initiative. Factors tipping the
Tyndall AFB active military) suggests this will create an additional 460 indirect/induced jobs locally.
the RPA community prevail. Many RPA pilots, sensor operators and
How to prepare
maintainers are leaving the program and the Air Force because of
Flying in a windowless, 1959 Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, used for
the 24/7 operations, long shifts and desert locations.
in-flight refueling, Bay and Gulf County business and community
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