Military Archive

Eglin Air Force Base – The Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, a highly autonomous, low-cost tactical unmanned air vehicle successfully completed its first test flight here Oct 3.

The Marine Corps partnered with the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the Naval Air Systems Command and Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division to facilitate the ongoing research, development, test and evaluation of the aircraft.

When veterans return from war, they face many challenges. Some struggle with readjusting to civilian life while others deal with physical scars or psychological trauma. To help veterans reclaim their lives through treatment, services and other resources, Jamie Wells started Defenders of Freedom Florida in 2020. He serves as its CEO and president.

U.S. Navy Capt. Paul Flores, commanding officer at Naval Air Station Whiting Field, was the keynote speaker at Monday’s Memorial Day service at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Milton. He said there are two ways to best honor the men and women of our military services who died in the service of our freedom: Teach others about their sacrifices, and ensure their legacy endures.

Northwest Florida is home to quite a few veterans. In many places, veterans can enjoy designated parking spots but at Santa Rosa County-owned facilities, the only veterans parking spots were for Purple Heart recipients. Other veterans did not have designated parking. At least not until now.

A soldier from Milton was killed in a helicopter crash at Fort Campbell in Kentucky March 29. The crash killed nine other soldiers as well. Warrant Officer 1 Jeffrey Barnes, 33, of Milton, had been flying in a Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopter during a training exercise when his helicopter and another Black Hawk crashed around 10 p.m. During a news conference the following day, Brig. Gen. John Lubas said the helicopters were flying a multiship formation and using night vision goggles.

NAS Whiting Field will be the place for comedy next week when the Gary Sinise Foundation and NAS Whiting Field Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) present ‘The Almost Red, White, & Blue’ Comedy Tour to members of Whiting Field on Wed., Oct. 5.

The event is set to begin at 2 p.m. and doors will open at 1:30pm.. The tour will perform in Sikes Hall on the installation.

Milton’s team scored a 238.1 to earn its first win of the season. Trigger Time finished with a score of 207.9.

Students at Gulf Breeze Elementary school were visited by Santa Claus, who arrived by helicopter thanks to the HT-8 Eightballers, a helicopter training squadron assigned to Training Air Wing Five at Naval Air Station Whiting Field.

Here’s the text of Rep. Matt Gaetz’s letter, also signed by eight other House members:

Members of surrounding communities gathered alongside Milton residents Thursday to honor those who have served in the United States military.