U.S. Air Force Maj. Daniel Thompson, 8th Fighter Squadron instructor pilot, conducts an F-16 Viper training sortie over White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Aug. 22, 2023. (Roidan Carlson/U.S. Air Force)
(Tribune News Service) — Holloman Air Force Base in southern New Mexico will be the permanent base for a training squadron of 26 F-16 fighter jets.
The Alamogordo-area base supports about 21,000 active duty, Guard, reserve, retirees, Department of Defense civilians and their family members, according to the base’s website. In the past, everything from B-17s to MQ-1 Predators have flown at Holloman, which has one of the longest test tracks in the world — nearly 10 miles long.
The decision is a long time coming. In 2017, an F-16 squadron was temporarily relocated to the base, and New Mexico politicians have been pushing ever since for a formal training unit to ensure that Holloman will continue hosting the 8th Fighter Squadron. Holloman was already home to two other F-16 fighter squadrons.
In 2020, Holloman was selected as the preferred location for the 8th Fighter Squadron, pending an environmental assessment, which considered a broad range of factors, including air pollution and noise pollution, said Denise Ottaviano, media chief for the 49th Wing. The assessment was completed in September.
Members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation, Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján and Rep. Gabe Vasquez, announced the decision Wednesday.
“I have worked for years to move these F-16s to Holloman, extolling its unmatched airspace and a surrounding community that is ready and eager to support new squadrons, service members, and families,” Heinrich said in a statement. “I will continue making sure Holloman has the assets, crew, instructors, and infrastructure it needs to make this permanent F-16 training mission successful.”
Heinrich previously pushed for military construction funding for the Air Force base, including $4.14 million in fiscal 2023 funding for the planning and design of F-16 formal training unit airfield requirements.
“This decision will help standardize training that benefits our national security and boosts economic development in southern New Mexico,” Luján said in a statement.
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