Making move: $8 million facility opens to extend 16th SOS capabilities

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Heidi Davis
  • COMMANDO staff
Hurlburt Field, Fla. --  After more than a year of planning and construction, the doors of the new 16th Special Operations Squadron were opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Jan. 13.

The new two-story, $8 million building, located between the 16th Fuels Management and Aerospace Ground Equipment building on the west side of the flightline, will house “about 180 Spectre Airmen, flight planning and life support materials, along with all support functions necessary to run a flying operational squadron,” said Senior Master Sgt. Doug Massingill, 16th SOS operations superintendent.

The increased space and upgraded facilities allow Airmen to better plan and execute the mission, while giving them greater flexibility to meet high operations tempo demands, Sergeant Massingill said.

“We’re using the same systems, but with more room to operate,” said 1st Lt. Brian Hasbrouck, 16th Operations Support Squadron intelligence. “Also, organizational integration upgrades have been made for better flow in the squadron. But, the best part is that ‘new car smell’.”

New sections have been created for aircrew life support, tactics and planning operate.

Life support Airmen now have individual sections for checking equipment, instead of having all of the equipment crammed into one area. Also, a classified area was created for tactics, intelligence and planning personnel to gather.

In addition, the squadron has multiple rooms for storage, a large auditorium, 180 lockers and an awards hallway to display the squadron’s accomplishments.

“The men and women of the 16th SOS deserve this facility from which they can carry on their tradition of excellence,” said Col. Mark Alsid, 16th Operations Group commander. “It’s an absolutely world-class building for a world-class combat squadron.”

As for the former 16th SOS building, it won’t go to waste. Sergeant Massingill said that the 16th Aircraft Maintenance Unit is scheduled to move in to enhance the unit’s space and capabilities.