In a historic moment for veterans and their families, the Air Force Enlisted Village (AFEV) officially acquired 80 acres of land from Eglin Air Force Base on Friday, June 12, 2024.

• The land will be used to build Victory Village, a specialized retirement community designed to support aging wounded warriors and their caregivers.

The deed signing ceremony, held at 2:00 p.m. at the Bob Hope Village Commons, marked a significant milestone in a journey that began nearly seven years ago. The event brought together military leaders, local officials, and community members to witness the formal transfer of land that will enable the development of this unique community.

Brooke McLean, President and CEO of AFEV, opened the ceremony by reflecting on the organization’s history and the vision behind Victory Village. 

• “In the 50+ years that this organization has been in existence, we have helped thousands of Air Force widows and retired couples,” McLean said. “Today, the Air Force Enlisted Village has about 600 residents that live here. We are a one-of-a-kind community, and there is no other community like the one that you’re visiting here today.”

McLean explained that the idea for Victory Village stemmed from recognizing a broader need within the military community.

“We used to pat ourselves on the back, saying that we were the only service that had the vision to be able to put this in place,” he said. “And then we reshaped things a little bit and started thinking about the opportunities that were in front of us. We thought, we have the platform already. Let’s figure out how to expand. Let’s figure out how to take what we have and open it up to more people.”

The journey to acquire the land was not without challenges. McLean recounted the process, which included meetings with board members, community leaders, and elected officials. 

• “We walked out of the meetings, and if we had followed the traditional path, we probably would not have moved past the idea stage,” he admitted. 

However, a suggestion to seek congressional support led to meetings with Congressman Matt Gaetz and then-Senator Bill Nelson, resulting in the land purchase being included in the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act.

According McLean, Congressman Gaetz showed immediate interest. He stated that within approximately four months, Gaetz had worked to include the land purchase provision in the NDAA. This legislative action, McLean explained, was crucial in allowing the Air Force Enlisted Village to acquire the 80 acres from Eglin Air Force Base.

• While Congressman Gaetz was unable to attend the deed signing ceremony, his father, former Florida State Senator Don Gaetz, was present at the event.

The $5 million land purchase was creatively structured to benefit the local military community. 

“Rather than have that money go up to the government and into the black hole, where it probably wouldn’t have made a ripple in anybody’s budget, we were able to keep that money at Eglin Air Force Base,” McLean explained. “So we’re able to pour that back into the quality of life for our teammates at Eglin.”

Additional support came from the State of Florida, which provided a $2 million appropriation from the Framework for Freedom Budget for fiscal year 2023-24. McLean acknowledged the efforts of State Representative Patt Maney and the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs in securing this funding.

Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, Under Secretary of the U.S. Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment, emphasized the significance of the project within the broader context of supporting military personnel and veterans. 

• “The signing of this deed represents a significant achievement in our collective efforts to support our nation’s military and veterans,” he said. “But it’s part of a broader effort in our department.”

Chaudhary highlighted recent investments in military infrastructure, including a $1.1 billion investment plan for dorms and daycare centers across 61 installations nationwide. He noted that Hurlburt Field would receive over $60 million for upgrades, including improvements to its daycare center, which is ranked number 1 nationally among the Air Force.

A heartfelt moment in the ceremony came when Chaudhary recognized Master Sergeant Joe Deslauriers and his family. Deslauriers, a 1st Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal technician, lost both legs above the knee and his left arm at the elbow in an IED explosion in Afghanistan in September 2011. 

• “Joe, the nation owes you and Lisa and Cameron and Kennedy, a debt that can never be repaid,” Chaudhary said. “Thank you for not only your work on Victory Village, but for your selfless service and dedication to the nation. Your efforts are going to change the lives of so many service members.”

Gen. James C. Slife, Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, spoke about the importance of community for veterans. “The thing that people miss the most when they are detached from the military or retiring is always the same, no matter who you talk to. It’s the camaraderie. It’s the teamwork. It’s the cohort of people that share your values that you go through life with,” Slife said.

He praised the vision behind Victory Village, noting its potential to provide a sense of purpose, community, and shared values for its residents. “I predict there will be a waiting list a mile long. We won’t be able to build facilities fast enough to satisfy the needs,” Slife added.

Plans for Victory Village include multiple neighborhoods to house 800 residents, a community center, a multi-denominational chapel, a fitness center, a swimming pool, walking paths, retail services, and a fire and EMS substation to serve AFEV and the Poquito Bayou neighborhood. The community will offer a continuum of care, including on-site skilled nursing, and will be open to surviving spouses of retired enlisted service members and retired enlisted couples from all military branches.

• The need for such a community is clear. According to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Florida has the third-largest population of veterans in the nation after California and Texas, with more than 1.5 million veterans calling the state home.

As the ceremony concluded, McLean outlined the next steps for Victory Village. “We’ve got more to do. We have to do zoning and we have to do entitlements. We have to update master plans. We have to explore partnerships and collaboration opportunities,” he said. “We have opportunities that could create a national treasure for our nation here in Shalimar, here in Okaloosa County, here in Florida.”

The deed signing ceremony, which included a presentation of colors by the Eglin AFB Honor Guard, the national anthem sung by AFEV resident Ernest Tucker, and an invocation by Chaplain Bethel Bateson, marked not just the transfer of land but the beginning of a new chapter in supporting America’s veterans and their families.