A-10 unit experiences post-BRAC building boom

Published July 14, 2007
By Tech. Sgt. Leo Brown
442nd Fighter Wing public affairs

WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- In 2006 , the Base Realignment and Closure Commission mandated moving nine A-10s and roughly 200 Citizen Airmen to the 442nd Fighter Wing here.

Closure of the Air Force Reserve Command A-10 unit in New Orleans resulted in a space crunch for the 442nd FW. Nineteen construction projects, valued at more than $17 million, are at various stages of completion. Three of the projects - two munitions igloos, a new building for the 303rd Fighter Squadron and a two-bay munitions maintenance structure - total roughly $11 million.

A host of agencies are involved in this process, which began in 2005. They include the Army Corps of Engineers, Whiteman's 509th Civil Engineer Squadron, Air Force Reserve Command, the 442nd FW Safety Office and civilian construction companies.

Getting the agencies on the same page has been a trying experience at times, said Col. Steve Arthur, 442nd FW commander. However, the process is smoothing out.

"I think we've got everybody coordinating at the right times," he said. "Most of the wing is aware that construction is under way, and I'm asking for everyone's patience while we expand the parking lots and get bigger facilities to operate out of.

"Everything is mission-driven," he added. "There are some projects that directly affect our ability for battle, and there are obviously some common-sense projects, like the BRAC projects. All the projects are going to help us do our job better."

First Lt. Terrell Eikner, 442nd Maintenance Squadron operations officer, said, "Everything's in motion. Some projects are a little behind, but most of them are on track."

Two of the more visible projects are the fighter squadron's operations building and the 12 shelters to house the A-10s it flies.

"I'm excited about the new fighter squadron facility," Colonel Arthur said. "It's going to be state of the art. It's really going to be a showcase for the Air Force Reserve."

According to information provided by Randy White, chief civil engineer with the 509th CES, the two-story, 31,000 square-foot building will cost $8.3 million. It will house administrative and command suites, a pilot equipment storage area and simulator rooms, among other features.

Mr. White said the building will be completed in 14 to 15 months once construction starts, which will probably be in 2008.

He noted that the two-part installation of the aircraft shelters, which also involves repainting stripes on part of the flight line, is going well. The first phase was scheduled to be completed in mid-July and the second phase should be done Sept. 16.

"They're installing the tie downs and grounds, and the September date shouldn't be in jeopardy," he said.

Lieutenant Eikner said the shelters, which will look like giant metal carports, are going to benefit both man and machine, as they will give wing reservists at least some protection from the elements and help extend the service life of the A-10s.

"When you park an aircraft in the shade, it prolongs the life of the aircraft," he said. "The canopies mean we won't always have to park aircraft in a hangar when it snows. The roofs will be ready for snow loads."

Other BRAC projects include two munitions igloos, which will hold 80 tons of explosives and satisfy training, storage and administrative requirements. Also mandated by BRAC is the construction of a 4,000-square foot, two-bay maintenance and munitions facility. It will feature a secure area, fire protection and detection, and air conditioning.

"BRAC told us we needed two igloos, but they funded us for just one," Lieutenant Eikner said. "I think at the time, they believed they had money for two."

Mr. White said the constructions projects have felt the pinch of higher oil prices.

"Oil prices went up and that caused gas at the pump to go up, causing transportation costs to rise," he said. "Then, because steel prices went up, the price of concrete went up because there's rebar in concrete."

The project involving the three-bay hangar's clean room has doubled from the initial estimate of $230,000 to $460,000.

Mr. White said he hopes the projects will be completed sometime in 2009. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)