OKALOOSA COUNTY -- There's a lot of concern in the okaloosa county town of Valparaiso on the negative impact the military's new "Joint Strike Fighter" could have.

Now, the military is working hard to ease concerns.

By 2011, Eglin Air Force base will be "the" training center for the F-35, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter.

The mission will bring pilots and crews from nine different countries to Northwest Florida.

Military and community leaders say it will be a major economic boom for the region.

But people who live in Valparaiso, which is right next to the base, are concerned about how the new jet could impact the area's quality of life.

Major General Charles Davis, director of the Joint Strike Fighter Program said, "To be honest with you, there's a lot of discussion about the noise of the airplane, what it will do to some of the local housing areas. So, there's a lot of date that's out there. Some of its correct, some of its way off base."

And that's why General Davis spoke to this large crowd on Okaloosa Island Tuesday morning, to give them a better idea of what they can expect from the new joint strike fighter.

Gen Davis said, "Sounds similar to an F-22 or an F-18 E/F."

The city of Valparaiso recently filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Air Force, so they could get a better idea of what kind of noise they can expect.

Lydia Johnson, a Valparaiso City Commissioner said, "A lot of times people are going to fear the worst. But I am hopeful things won't be so bad. And that we can mitigate any issues we have and work closely with Eglin Air Force Base because we're one community right together."

General Davis admits the Air Force could have done a better job of explaining how the F-35 will impact the region.

But he says the line of communication will be improving and that the military leaders are already planning to move more training flights away from Eglin's main runway, and its nearby neighbors, to more remote places like Duke Field and Choctaw field.

Larry Sassano, president of Okaloosa Economic Development Council said, "Things will work out to the benefit of Valparaiso and the other surrounding communities, Okaloosa County and Northwest Florida."

General Davis said, "It's gonna take a lot of work, I will tell you that. To be able to get this community integrated. Not just this community, but getting it integrated in any community."

The Joint Strike Fighter program at Eglin is expected to bring nearly ten thousand new people to Okaloosa County in the next ten years.

General Davis says the bigger issue leaders need to work on is making sure there is enough housing and roads for all the new people.Meeting On Joint Strike Fighter