Ever since the Department of Defense announced last month that Tyndall Air Force Base will be losing 588 jobs, local business leaders have been discussing ways to lessen the impact.

The story is just the opposite in Okaloosa County, where Eglin Air Force Base will gain more than 400 jobs in the proposed realignment plan.

Okaloosa county military officials and local business owners can't wait for the Air Force's 2009 Force Structure Plan to go into effect.
Eglin Air Force Base will gain 425 positions, 302 of those will be non-military jobs.

Some of the 425 positions are defense contractors that will be converted to Department of Defense civilian employees.

"We have historically had support contractors that provided engineering services for our acquisition program. This is moving to bring that in-house to the government more than we have done in the past,” say Air Force Col. Arnold Bunch.

Nearly 200 of the jobs are new positions ranging from engineering to security. The announcement has generated a flurry of applicants.

"We are seeing more resumes coming in right now. We do believe the market is there for us to bring in quality engineers that we can retain in government service for a long time," says Bunch.

Local business owners are also excited about the Force Structure Plan.
This bakery and restaurant owner in Valparaiso hopes more Eglin jobs will mean more business for her.

"I hope we have more breakfast and lunch people come in. We have lots of cakes ordered for promotions out on base. We hope to increase our business with the new personnel," says Say Cake Bakery and Café owner Robin Chamberlain.

Military official are already filling some of the open positions, so interested job seekers should turn in applications as soon as possible.

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