Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation situated in the western Florida Panhandle, approximately three miles southwest of Valparaiso in Okaloosa County, Florida, covering more than 464,000 acres of land, which constitutes the largest contiguous military reservation in the United States.[1][2] Established in 1935 as the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base and subsequently renamed to honor Lt. Col. Frederick I. Eglin, who perished in a 1937 aircraft accident, the base has evolved into the Department of Defense's second-largest test and training complex, emphasizing empirical validation of weapons systems through rigorous developmental testing.[3][4][2] The base hosts the 96th Test Wing, which conducts testing and evaluation of non-nuclear munitions, navigation and guidance systems, command and control architectures, and aircraft platforms such as the F-35 Lightning II, utilizing a 724-square-mile land range with specialized facilities including depleted uranium testing areas.[5][5] It also supports the 33rd Fighter Wing's operational training for fifth-generation fighters, contributing to combat readiness across multiple major commands including Air Combat Command and Air Education and Training Command.[6][2] Spanning involvement in six major conflicts since World War II gunnery training origins, Eglin has pioneered advancements in air-delivered ordnance and electronic warfare, underpinning causal chains from prototype validation to battlefield efficacy without reliance on unverified narratives.[3][5]History
Establishment and World War II Operations
The Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base was activated on June 14, 1935, as an auxiliary range for the U.S. Army Air Corps' Maxwell Field in Alabama, encompassing 1,460 acres of donated land from local philanthropist James E. Plew near Valparaiso, Florida.[7] [8] Commanded initially by Captain Arnold H. Rich, the facility supported basic bombing and gunnery practice with an eight-way landing field, marking the U.S. military's early investment in aerial ordnance training amid interwar rearmament.[3] [9] In August 1937, the base was redesignated Eglin Field to honor Lieutenant Colonel Frederick I. Eglin, a pioneering Air Corps officer killed in a 1936 aircraft accident while testing pursuit planes.[8] As tensions escalated toward World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved land acquisitions in May 1940, including 384,000 acres of the Choctawhatchee National Forest, transforming it into a dedicated proving ground for aircraft armament under General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold's directive.[3] [8] The Air Corps Proving Ground was formally activated in 1941, establishing Eglin as a hub for gunnery training of Army Air Forces fighter pilots and initial weapons evaluation.[3] During the war, Eglin expanded into the second-largest U.S. air facility, conducting critical research, development, and training on aircraft, engines, and munitions while developing ten auxiliary airfields for operational support.[8] In March 1942, Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy Doolittle's volunteer crews trained there for three weeks on B-25 Mitchell bombers, simulating carrier deck launches, low-altitude navigation over water, and short-runway takeoffs essential to the subsequent Doolittle Raid on Japan.[10] [8] The base contributed to Operation Crossbow starting in January 1944 by replicating German V-1 launch sites for tactical testing against buzz bombs, and in 1945 it developed the JB-2 Loon guided missile—a U.S. adaptation of the V-1—while evaluating captured V-2 rockets and employing up to 300 German prisoners of war for labor. [11] [8]Postwar Expansion and Early Cold War Developments
Following World War II, Eglin Air Force Base retained its role as a key armament testing site, with weapons development continuing at a reduced pace amid demobilization, while infrastructure improvements included a climate-controlled bomb loading pit and indoor gun range to support ongoing evaluations. The base's personnel declined to under 1,000, but its strategic value persisted due to the expansive testing ranges over land and water, enabling safe evaluation of munitions without urban risks.[12][13] On March 8, 1946, the Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command was redesignated and re-stationed to Eglin, formalizing its focus on operational suitability testing for aircraft, armament, and systems, a role that expanded with the onset of the Cold War to address emerging threats from Soviet aviation advances. The McKinley Climatic Laboratory was completed on May 24, 1947, providing the first U.S. facility for full-scale aircraft testing under simulated arctic, tropical, and desert conditions, which proved essential for validating equipment reliability in diverse environments. Early guided missile efforts began on January 13, 1947, when the 1st Experimental Guided Missile Group conducted a simulated bombing mission using a B-17 drone, marking Eglin's pivot toward jet-age and standoff weaponry development.[14][15] In late 1949, the Air Materiel Armament Test Center was established at Eglin to conduct dedicated research and development testing, complementing the proving ground's operational focus and addressing gaps in systematic armament innovation amid escalating East-West tensions. The Air Force Armament Center was activated on December 26, 1951, under Maj. Gen. Edward P. Mechling, centralizing air-delivered weapons development and integrating electronic and guidance systems testing. By March 31, 1946, the APGC had completed suitability tests on the JB-3 missile, which later saw combat use in Korea, demonstrating Eglin's rapid adaptation to tactical needs. These developments drove physical expansion, including enhanced Gulf Test Range instrumentation for precision tracking of supersonic projectiles and early nuclear-compatible delivery systems.[15][14] Culminating postwar reorganization, the Air Proving Ground Command and Air Force Armament Center merged on December 1, 1957, into the Air Proving Ground Center, streamlining command for integrated testing of advanced aircraft like the C-130 Hercules (first environmentally tested February 9, 1956) and missiles such as the GAM-77 Hound Dog beginning December 1, 1958. This era solidified Eglin's position as the Air Force's primary non-nuclear armament hub, with range acreage growing to over 700 square miles by the late 1950s to accommodate high-speed, high-yield evaluations critical to deterrence strategies.[3][14]Peak Cold War Era and Missile Testing
During the height of the Cold War in the 1950s through the 1980s, Eglin Air Force Base served as a central facility for the development, testing, and evaluation of air-launched missiles and guided weapons systems, supporting U.S. efforts to maintain technological superiority amid escalating tensions with the Soviet Union. The Air Proving Ground Command (APGC), established earlier but pivotal in this era, conducted extensive trials leveraging the base's 724-square-mile footprint and adjacent Gulf of Mexico ranges for safe, over-water launches and impacts. By 1950, the APGC had become a major missile test center, focusing on both tactical and strategic systems to enhance aircraft survivability and strike precision. This role intensified post-Korean War, with dedicated squadrons performing thousands of test flights annually to validate guidance, propulsion, and warhead performance under varied conditions.[13] Prominent programs in the 1950s included testing of the TM-61 Matador ground-launched cruise missile and the CIM-10 Bomarc supersonic surface-to-air missile, which were evaluated for operational deployment in NATO defenses against potential Soviet bomber incursions. Air-launched developments followed, such as the AGM-28 Hound Dog nuclear-armed standoff missile, with prototype launches from B-52 Stratofortress bombers over Eglin ranges commencing around 1960 to assess range extension beyond enemy interceptors. Decoy systems like the ADM-20 Quail were also trialed from the same platform, simulating electronic signatures to confuse radar defenses and protect strategic bombers. These efforts yielded data on aerodynamics, telemetry, and countermeasures, directly informing production decisions and contributing to the U.S. nuclear deterrent posture.[11] Into the 1960s and beyond, Eglin expanded evaluations to precision-guided munitions, incorporating early infrared and radar-homing technologies refined through Vietnam-era feedback. The redesignation of APGC to Air Force Armament Center in 1961 centralized oversight, enabling integrated testing of systems like anti-radiation missiles and anti-ship weapons. Supporting infrastructure, including phased-array radars at sites such as C-6, provided real-time tracking for over 1,000 annual missile firings by the 1970s, ensuring reliability metrics exceeded 90% for key programs. This era's work underscored Eglin's causal role in causal advancements in standoff capabilities, prioritizing empirical validation over theoretical models to counter Soviet numerical advantages in conventional forces.[13]
Post-Cold War Realignments and Modernization
Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, Eglin Air Force Base underwent organizational realignments to align with the U.S. Air Force's post-Cold War emphasis on operational testing of precision-guided munitions and reduced force structure. On October 1, 1991, the USAF Tactical Air Warfare Center at Eglin was redesignated the USAF Air Warfare Center, reflecting a shift toward integrated warfare testing amid drawdowns in strategic bomber and fighter programs.[16] In 1992, the base's parent command, Air Force Systems Command, was disestablished and its research and development functions merged into the newly formed Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), placing Eglin's test activities under AFMC oversight to streamline acquisition and evaluation processes for emerging technologies like air-launched missiles and smart bombs validated in the 1991 Gulf War.[17] These changes initially led to personnel reductions as Cold War-era missions contracted, though the base retained its core role in non-nuclear munitions testing across its expansive ranges.[12] The 1990s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) rounds had limited direct impact on Eglin, sparing it from major cuts while other installations consolidated testing functions, but the 2005 BRAC significantly expanded its footprint. Under BRAC 2005, the U.S. Army relocated its 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) headquarters and elements from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Eglin, adding approximately 1,300 personnel by 2011 and necessitating new training compounds for special operations integration with Air Force assets.[18][19] Concurrently, Eglin was selected as the primary training base for the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, with the 33rd Fighter Wing designated to host formal training units for up to 59 aircraft; a Record of Decision in February 2009 authorized construction of dedicated hangars, simulators, and runways to support this multinational program.[20] These realignments boosted Eglin's workforce by over 2,200 jobs, enhancing joint service collaboration and economic activity in the region.[21] Modernization efforts post-1991 emphasized upgrading infrastructure for high-fidelity testing of precision weapons systems, including the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits and stand-off missiles, to address asymmetric threats rather than massed Soviet armor. The 96th Test Wing, redesignated in September 1991 under the objective wing concept and later merging support functions in the early 2000s, centralized Eglin's operational test and evaluation mission, conducting over 10,000 sorties annually by the mid-2000s on dedicated ranges spanning 724 square miles.[22] Facility investments included environmental impact assessments for expanded live-fire zones and the integration of digital simulation for F-35 weapon certification, ensuring compatibility with network-centric warfare doctrines.[23] These adaptations maintained Eglin's status as the Air Force's premier center for air-delivered munitions validation, with BRAC-driven expansions enabling co-location of special operations and fifth-generation fighter training to foster interoperability.[24]Recent Developments (2000s–2025)
In 2005, Eglin Air Force Base received additional missions and approximately 2,200 jobs through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, enhancing its role in testing and training while integrating relocated units such as the U.S. Army's 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), which began realignment in 2008.[19] This expansion supported broader Air Force Materiel Command objectives, including non-nuclear munitions evaluation by the 96th Test Wing.[3] The base became central to F-35 Lightning II integration following a February 2009 Record of Decision authorizing construction for 59 aircraft and the establishment of an Integrated Training Center, with preparations focused on operational readiness by 2010.[20][25] The 33rd Fighter Wing transitioned to graduate flying and maintenance training for the F-35A, conducting initial operational sorties and international partner training, such as for Finnish Air Force personnel in September 2025.[26][27] In May 2025, the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center activated its first F-35 Combined Test Force, marking a milestone in reserve component involvement for developmental and operational testing.[28] Weapons testing advanced with ongoing evaluations of precision-guided munitions, including swarming smart bombs demonstrated in 2021 and hypersonic systems, though some tests encountered setbacks as noted in 2021 reports.[29][30] The 96th Test Wing expanded range capabilities, opening a new site south of Tampa to cover over 120,000 square miles of Gulf airspace and conducting counter-unmanned aerial systems experiments starting in September 2023.[31] Munitions drops in the Gulf continued, with scheduled tests on June 24 and 26, 2025, requiring maritime safety zones.[32] Infrastructure developments included $10 million in congressional funding approved in September 2025 for a new radar system to bolster testing infrastructure.[33] Environmental and land-use initiatives progressed, such as Operation Reforest for longleaf pine restoration in February 2025 and conceptual plans for developing "orphan" parcels approved by Okaloosa County in January 2025.[34][35] The base pursued mixed-use expansions, including a February 2025 industry day for leasing 98 acres as a technology and research park, and proposals for redeveloping a 603-acre golf course parcel announced in August 2025.[36][37]Strategic Mission and Operations
Core Functions in Weapons Testing and Evaluation
The 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base executes the U.S. Air Force's primary missions in developmental testing and evaluation of air-delivered conventional munitions, including precision-guided bombs, missiles, and associated navigation and guidance systems.[5] This encompasses ground-based simulations, hardware-in-the-loop testing, and live-flight evaluations to assess weapon performance, accuracy, and integration with aircraft platforms such as the F-35 Lightning II.[5][28] Core evaluation activities focus on air-to-ground and air-to-air munitions, leveraging facilities like the Guided Weapons Evaluation Facility for tactical guided weapon assessments using flight motion simulators and real hardware.[38] The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, a key subordinate unit, specializes in air-to-air missile employment, electronic combat systems, and instrumented aircraft flights to validate weapon effectiveness under operational conditions.[39] These tests occur across the Eglin Test and Training Complex, supporting iterative improvements in munitions reliability and combat utility prior to field deployment.[40] Operational test and evaluation extends to command and control integration, F-35 weapons employment, and non-nuclear ordnance disposal techniques, ensuring systems meet warfighter requirements through data-driven validation rather than unverified assumptions.[5][41] Specialized burns and detonations, such as those scheduled for September 3, 2025, on the complex, facilitate safe handling and performance analysis of unexploded ordnance and munitions residues.[42] This rigorous process, rooted in empirical flight data and sensor telemetry, prioritizes causal factors like aerodynamics, guidance algorithms, and environmental variables over institutional preferences.[43]Aircrew Training and Combat Simulation
The 33rd Fighter Wing, headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, serves as the U.S. Air Force's primary graduate flying training unit for the F-35A Lightning II, producing combat-ready pilots and maintainers through a structured curriculum under Air Education and Training Command.[26] This wing conducts initial and advanced aircrew training, emphasizing tactics, weapons employment, and mission execution in multi-domain operations. Training integrates classroom instruction at the F-35 Lightning II Academic Training Center with hands-on flight operations, enabling pilots to transition from basic qualifications to operational proficiency.[44] Simulator-based training at Eglin enhances aircrew skills without the constraints of live airspace or aircraft availability, utilizing full-fidelity devices like the 3F simulator for unrestricted scenario replication.[45] Enhancements such as RFView incorporate physics-based, real-time modeling of radio frequency environments, adding realism to combat pilot simulations by mimicking electronic warfare and sensor interactions.[46] The Portable Precision Strike Combat Training System (P5 CTS), first fielded in 2006, records training missions to provide debriefs with air-to-air and air-to-ground data, facilitating detailed analysis of pilot performance in simulated engagements.[47] Combat simulation extends to live training over Eglin's vast ranges, including the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range, where aircrews practice weapons delivery and tactical maneuvers against realistic threats.[48] These exercises integrate modeling and simulation to validate warfighting scenarios prior to live execution, reducing risks while building proficiency in high-threat environments.[49] Joint training events further sharpen readiness, simulating expeditionary operations and multi-service coordination on dedicated combat support training ranges.[50]Research and Development Initiatives
The Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW), headquartered at Eglin Air Force Base, leads research and development of conventional munitions technologies, including warheads, fuzes, propulsion systems, and guidance components, to equip the Air Force with responsive, precise, and lethal armament capabilities.[51] This directorate conducts all phases of munitions R&D, from basic science to technology maturation, emphasizing affordable systems that integrate with air-delivered platforms.[52] Its efforts span non-nuclear munitions innovation, drawing on Eglin's extensive test ranges for live-fire validation and iterative prototyping.[53] Key facilities supporting these initiatives include the Advanced Munitions Technology Complex (AMTC), unveiled on December 13, 2022, which consolidates laboratories, simulation environments, and manufacturing tools to accelerate development of next-generation weapons amid evolving threats.[54] The AMTC enables rapid experimentation in areas like hypersonic countermeasures and multi-domain integration, with modular designs allowing scalability from concept to field deployment.[54] Complementing this, the 96th Test Wing's developmental test and evaluation programs validate munitions performance across battlespace media, ensuring reliability under realistic combat conditions prior to operational adoption.[5] Recent R&D emphases at Eglin include immersive simulation technologies for aircrew tactical training and autonomous systems validation for unmanned munitions deployment, as highlighted in discussions by Air Force Chief Scientist Brenda Bowen in April 2024.[55] Collaborative ventures, such as February 2024 industry days hosted by the Armament Warfighter Center of Excellence, foster partnerships with private sector entities to prototype advanced energetics and sensor-fused ordnance.[56] These initiatives align with broader Air Force priorities for countering peer adversaries through superior firepower, leveraging Eglin's 700-square-mile test complex for high-fidelity data collection.[57]Organizational Structure and Units
Primary Air Force Commands and Wings
The 96th Test Wing serves as the host unit and primary command element at Eglin Air Force Base, assigned to Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC).[5] This wing functions as the Air Force's principal test and evaluation center for air-delivered weapons, navigation and guidance systems, command and control, and electronic warfare capabilities.[5] The 96th Test Wing commander additionally oversees installation operations, providing essential base support services to all tenant units and personnel.[5] Key tenant wings include the 33rd Fighter Wing, aligned under Air Education and Training Command (AETC) within the Nineteenth Air Force.[58] The 33rd Fighter Wing delivers graduate-level pilot and maintenance training for the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II multirole fighter, operating as Eglin's largest tenant organization with multiple squadrons dedicated to operational conversion and tactics instruction.[58] The 53rd Wing, subordinate to Air Combat Command (ACC) and reporting through the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center, conducts operational test and evaluation of advanced aircraft, weapons, and systems.[59] Employing over 1,600 Airmen and evaluating more than 25 aircraft platforms, the wing ensures combat readiness by integrating new technologies into warfighting doctrines prior to fleet-wide deployment.[59][60] The 919th Special Operations Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) unit stationed at Duke Field—a sub-installation of Eglin—represents the sole Reserve component special operations wing in the Air Force.[61] It maintains and operates specialized aircraft for infiltration, exfiltration, and precision strike missions, augmenting active-duty special operations forces.[61] Collectively, these wings enable Eglin to support missions across five major Air Force commands: ACC, AETC, AFMC, AFRC, and Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).[2]Tenant and Joint Service Units
Eglin Air Force Base hosts a variety of tenant units from the U.S. Air Force and joint service partners, which leverage the installation's extensive airspace, ranges, and facilities for testing, training, and research. These organizations operate alongside the host 96th Test Wing, contributing to Eglin's role as a multi-service hub under the Department of Defense.[62][63] Prominent Air Force tenant units include the 33rd Fighter Wing, the largest such entity at Eglin, assigned to Air Education and Training Command and focused on F-35 Lightning II pilot and maintenance training for U.S. and allied forces.[64] The 53rd Wing, under Air Combat Command, serves as the U.S. Air Force's focal point for operational test and evaluation, tactics development, and spectrum warfare across more than 25 platforms from its headquarters at Eglin.[65][59] The Air Force Research Laboratory Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW), headquartered at Eglin, develops advanced conventional munitions technologies, including warheads, fuzes, and guidance systems, to enhance warfighter capabilities.[51] Additionally, the 919th Special Operations Wing, an Air Force Reserve Command unit based at Duke Field (an Eglin auxiliary), conducts special operations missions with aircraft such as the CV-22 Osprey.[64] Joint service tenants encompass Army, Navy, and Marine Corps elements integrated into Eglin's operations. The U.S. Army's 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), activated on May 20, 1960, and stationed on a 500-acre compound at Eglin since the early 2010s, specializes in unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, and special reconnaissance primarily in Latin America, Central America, and the Caribbean.[66][67] The Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD), a Navy-managed command at Eglin since 1955, jointly staffed by personnel from all four services, trains over 1,500 EOD technicians annually in detection, disposal, and render-safe procedures for unexploded ordnance and improvised devices; it is recognized as one of the military's most elite training programs.[68][69][70] The 20th Space Surveillance Squadron, transitioned to U.S. Space Force in October 2020 and operating the AN/FPS-85 phased-array radar at Eglin Site C-6, executes space domain awareness by tracking over 22,000 orbiting objects for threat characterization and collision avoidance.[71][72] A Marine Corps detachment supports NAVSCOLEOD with instructors and command elements.[73] These units benefit from Eglin's 724-square-mile range complex, enabling integrated multi-domain operations while sharing base support services provided by the 96th Air Base Wing.[62][74]Support and Specialized Directorates
The 96th Mission Support Group, subordinate to the 96th Test Wing, oversees base-wide support operations at Eglin Air Force Base, including aerospace expeditionary force readiness, fuels management, supply chain logistics, transportation, security forces, personnel services, education programs, and family support initiatives.[5] This group ensures operational continuity for testing and training activities across the installation's expansive range facilities. As of August 1, 2024, Colonel Christopher Hagemeyer commands the 96th Mission Support Group, succeeding Colonel Tassika Davis during a change-of-command ceremony.[75] Key subordinate units within the support structure include the 96th Civil Engineer Group, which manages engineering projects, infrastructure maintenance, facility operations, and emergency response to sustain the base's physical plant and housing areas.[76] The 96th Force Support Squadron handles morale, welfare, and recreation services, encompassing child development centers, fitness programs, lodging, and family readiness assistance to support over 20,000 personnel and dependents.[77] Specialized directorates at Eglin focus on armament acquisition and research, distinct from operational testing wings. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Armament Directorate, headquartered at Eglin, acquires and sustains air-to-ground and air-to-air munitions, including precision-guided weapons, to equip U.S. and allied forces against adversarial threats.[78] [79] Its portfolio spans warhead integration, fuzing systems, and deployment platforms, managing a lifecycle from development to fielding with an emphasis on affordability and lethality.[80] Complementing acquisition efforts, the Air Force Research Laboratory's Munitions Directorate (AFRL/RW), also based at Eglin, advances fundamental technologies for conventional munitions, including warheads, fuzes, and guidance systems to enhance warfighter effectiveness.[51] Established through historical mergers of armament labs, it prioritizes affordable, high-performance innovations, such as those tested in the Advanced Munitions Technology Complex unveiled on December 13, 2022, which supports prototyping and experimentation for future air-delivered ordnance.[54] The directorate inducted a new commander on June 28, 2024, to drive ongoing research acceleration.[81]Facilities and Infrastructure
Main Installation and Auxiliary Fields
The main installation of Eglin Air Force Base constitutes the core operational hub, situated southwest of Valparaiso in Okaloosa County, Florida, and encompassing administrative headquarters, weapons testing laboratories, hangars, and the primary airfield infrastructure. This central area supports the base's primary missions in research, development, testing, and evaluation, with facilities including over 882 buildings and 30 miles of paved runways across the broader reservation. The main airfield, shared with Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (KVPS), features key runways such as 12/30, measuring 12,004 feet by 300 feet, and 02/20 at 10,012 feet by 300 feet, facilitating heavy aircraft operations and joint civilian-military use.[82] [83] Eglin maintains ten auxiliary fields, primarily established in the 1940s to expand training and testing capabilities amid World War II demands, each named in honor of deceased personnel and distributed across the base's 724-square-mile expanse.[84] [85] These fields provide dispersed landing sites, specialized training areas, and support installations, enhancing operational flexibility and redundancy.- Auxiliary Field 1 (Wagner Field): Located northeast of the main base in Area C-5, named for Major Walter J. Wagner.[84]
- Auxiliary Field 2 (Pierce Field): Situated 10 miles north of the East Gate at Site C-3, the first auxiliary field constructed in the 1940s and formerly hosting a Vietnamese resettlement camp in 1975, named for Lt. Col. George E. Pierce.[84]
- Auxiliary Field 3 (Duke Field): Positioned 12 miles north of the East Gate along Highway 85, it houses the 919th Special Operations Wing and 728th Tactical Control Squadron, named for 1st Lt. Robert L. Duke.[84]
- Auxiliary Field 4 (Peel Field): Found off Lewis Turner Boulevard on Eglin Road 326, supporting civil engineering and mobility training functions, named for 2nd Lt. Garland O. Peel, Jr.[84]
- Auxiliary Field 5 (Piccolo Field): North of Field 4 at Site C-4, operating as a microwave station, named for Capt. Anthony D. Piccolo.[84]
- Auxiliary Field 6 (Biancur Field/Camp Rudder): 23 miles from the main installation at Tab 6, home to the U.S. Army's 6th Ranger Training Battalion and site of a former federal prison, named for 1st Lt. Andrew Biancur.[84]
- Auxiliary Field 7 (Epler Field): Formerly an Army Ranger camp before relocation to Field 6 in 1971, named for Col. Robin E. Epler.[84]
- Auxiliary Field 8 (Baldi siefen Field): In the southeastern portion near Range 52, lacking permanent buildings, named for 2nd Lt. Richard E. Baldsiefen.[84]
- Auxiliary Field 9 (Hurlburt Field): 24 miles west via Highway 98, encompassing the largest gunnery range and hosting Air Force Special Operations Command's 16th Special Operations Wing, named for 1st Lt. Donald W. Hurlburt.[84]
- Auxiliary Field 10 (Dillon Field/Choctaw OLF): Westernmost field utilized by the Navy for basic flight training, named for Capt. Barclay H. Dillon.[84] [86]