NAS Brunswick Sailors learn about Jacksonville

Four P-3C Orion patrol squadrons (VPU-1, VP-8, VP-10 and VP-26) and up to 1,300 Sailors will make the transition from Maine to Florida.

NAS Jacksonville Commanding Officer Capt. Jack Scorby Jr. attended the event and presented an overview of NAS Jax and current construction projects, including the $123 million hangar that will house five P-3C Orion squadrons and a C-130 Hercules logistics squadron.

The 277,000-square-foot hangar has room for approximately 33 P-3Cs, four C-130s and more than 1,600 personnel.

Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Eleven Capt. Kyle Cozad gives a brief during the Information Fair in Brunswick, Maine for Sailors and their families who will be transferring to NAS Jacksonville.

Scorby introduced Sally Patch from the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, whose presentation covered many aspects of life in Northeast Florida, including demographics, neighborhoods and job opportunities.

She concluded her briefing with a photographic tour of the area's recreational and historical attractions.

After the seated presentation, approximately 350 Sailors and family members toured the 17 information booths, including: the NAS Brunswick Personal Property Office; the Clay County and Jacksonville Chambers of Commerce; Duval County Public Schools; local colleges; the NAS Jax Fleet and Family Support Center; housing experts and others.

In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) committee voted to close NAS Brunswick and move its aircraft operations to NAS Jacksonville. By law, the base must close by Sept.15, 2011.

"The focus today is to increase Sailors' knowledge and comfort about the move to Jacksonville," said Freddie Byers of the NAS Jacksonville BRAC office.

"We gave out a lot of good information. Our goal is to make this move less stressful and very successful."