Wing experiences post-BRAC building boom

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Leo Brown
  • 442nd Fighter Wing public affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  The Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) mandates in 2006 sent nine A-10s and roughly 200 Citizen Airmen to the 442nd Fighter Wing and the battle for creating space for them is being joined at many locations on Whiteman Air Force Base.

Nineteen construction projects, totaling over $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 and are mandated by BRAC legislation.

A host of agencies are involved in this process, which began in 2005, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron, Air Force Reserve Command, the 442nd Fighter Wing 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 Fighter Wing 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," Col. Arthur said. "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."

"Everything's in motion," said 1st Lt. Terrell Eikner, 442nd Maintenance Squadron operations officer. "Some projects are a little behind, but most of them are on track."

Two of the most visible projects will be the fighter squadron's operations building and 12 shelters for the A-10s it flies.

"I'm excited about the new fighter squadron facility," Col. 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 Mr. Randy White, chief civil engineer with the 509th CES, the 31,000 square-foot building, which costs $8.3 million, will sit on the northwest corner of the flight line road and 9th Street. The two-story structure 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 Citizen Airmen 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."

The two other BRAC-mandated projects are two munitions igloos, which will hold 80 tons of explosives and satisfy training, storage and administrative requirements, as well as construction of a near 4,000-square foot, two-bay maintenance and munitions facility, which 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."

"The most frustrating part of this has been the disconnect between authority and dollars," Mr. White said. "But we're about to solve that. In general, the BRAC funding was about 52 cents on the dollar, so you have a requirement, but the funding doesn't match it.

"That's why there's such a tug of war with money and I have to say, 'This is what you need? Are you sure?'" he said. "There are some real limitations with this, but I'd like the wing to know people we're really for them and we're not working against them."

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

"We haven't seen an inflation and construction cost issue like this in about 12 years," Mr. White said.

He also noted that there's talk of labor unions demanding more money in negotiations.
"I got a quote from the Association of General Contractors about this and in my 30 years in this work, I can't remember seeing a warning like this," he said.

Regardless of money concerns, he added, "We've got the money situation back in hand where we can forecast things. But it's been difficult. It's all tied to the oil."
Mr. White said he hopes the projects will be completed sometime in 2009.