MacDill Air Force Base Focuses on Personnel Living in Brandon Area

There's a good reason Air Force Col. Lenny J. Richoux has been spending so much time in Brandon, speaking to area civic groups.

Richoux, the commander of the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base, said it's because 80 percent of the base personnel reside in the Brandon area and commute to MacDill each day. In addition, the Brandon area has a wealth of retirees who continue to use the Air Force base's services.

Speaking to the South Brandon Rotary Club last week, Richoux said he's been on the Brandon speaking circuit to let residents know that the military is an integral part of their community, and needs their support.

"My people are community activists," he said. "They want to leave the place they live better than they found it."

To that end, Richoux said he aims to increase understanding about the Air Force Base and its mission among residents in the area.

The mission of the 6th Air Mobility Wing is to provide worldwide air refueling services. In addition, the wing provides support to U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command and 51 other mission partners that call MacDill home.

As the commander since July 2010, Richoux is responsible for more than $2.8 billion in base property and capital assets, and controls an annual budget exceeding $249 million. 

The job isn't as staggering as the description makes it sound, said Richoux.

"The base will run itself," he said. "I don't have to worry about the professionalism and the equipment. My job is people."

To that end, Richoux is striving to make MacDill more accessible to civilians and make its services more accessible to military personnel.

"I'm like the mayor of a town of 20,000 people and president of an airline that happens to be in combat," he said.

The base, which encompasses 57,000 acres, supports 572 homes and 450 rooms in a residence hall. In addition, 500 former military snowbirds live on base.

"They spend a lot of money on the base and do a lot of volunteer work," he said of the retirees.

But most of the people who work at MacDill live off-base, said Richoux.

That's why MacDill has made efforts to bring MacDill resources closer to the people the base serves.

The base has a MacDill Air Force Base Branch Clinic, which provides medical services to MacDill personnel and their families. Currently the clinic is located at 220 Grand Regency Blvd., Brandon, but will be moving to a larger 35,000-square-foot facility, said Richoux. The clinic eliminates the need for MacDill families to drive to the Air Force base for their medical needs.

In addition, there's an Airman & Family Readiness Center satellite office located at 710 Oakfield Drive, Suite 153, Brandon.  The center offers a variety of services for military families including employment, financial, family readiness and transition services. In addition, there's Internet, fax and a copier available for families to use. The center also offers legal assistance, playgroups, special events for military families, computer technology classes, tax preparation services and CPR training.

Since coming to MacDill, Richoux also has instituted once-a-month dinners for Brandon area military spouses, giving them a chance to meet one another and share resources. The next dinner will be held June 21 at the Brandon Sports and Aquatic Center.

By the same token, Richoux is striving the make the base more accessible to civilians in Tampa Bay.

Next April, Richoux plans to open the waters around the base to area anglers. In addition, he founded the Friends of MacDill program for people interested in taking advantage of the base's perks, including its two 18-hole golf course, bowling alley, marina, beach club. Civilians can obtain special identification cards that will give them access to the base, provided they pass a background check.

"In six months, we've signed up 600 people," said Richoux. "Some people have told me they've lived their whole lives in Tampa and never set foot on the base. This is federal property. It belongs to you."