Forum: Air Force Life

From the San Antonio Express News:

http://www.mysanantonio.com/military/90 ... d_AFB.html

$900 million boost set for Lackland AFB

Sig Christenson - Express-News Launching the Air Force's biggest construction project anywhere over the next six years, Lackland AFB will break ground next spring on a $900 million Airmen Training Complex that underscores the service's long-term commitment to San Antonio.

The dormitory and dining hall complex will go up in stages through 2014, replacing residential areas and cafeterias that in some cases date to the late 1960s.

One commander said the project is not only crucial to training airmen at Lackland — often called the “Gateway to the Air Force” because enlistee training begins here — but important to the city as well.

“San Antonio can feel very good about this investment because we're going to be here to stay,” said Col. Robert LaBrutta, commander of the base's 37th Mission Support Group.

“Lackland Air Force Base is the training capital for the United States Air Force and will continue to be such through this complex.”

The complex is the latest big-ticket military project in San Antonio, after $1.8 billion in base-closure construction on Fort Sam Houston expected through 2011. But unlike work there and at other installations in the city fueled by the 2005 Defense Base Closure and Realignment round, this project will be paid for by military construction funds.

In all, the Pentagon will spend around $3 billion on various projects in the Alamo City in the coming years, as Army and Air Force missions expand because of base closures and wars overseas. Funding has been granted through fiscal year 2010, LaBrutta said, but congressional approval is needed for funding from 2011 to 2014.

Lackland's project will start in May, only months after the base institutes a longer basic training course for new recruits. The training cycle will expand from 6½ to 8½ weeks Nov. 1, spokesman Oscar Balladares said.

The Air Force quietly prepared for the dorm project, mapping plans for phasing in the complex and talking with San Antonio's Military Transformation Task Force as well as local leaders. An item about the project appeared in Lackland's newspaper this year, but spokesman Kirk Frady said the spotlight has fallen on Fort Sam Houston's construction boom.

“Everybody's focus is on Fort Sam Houston,” he said. “The MTTF, the city, the brokers in San Antonio know about it.”

The Air Force will build 20 new structures, including eight 1,200-person training complexes that will be served by four dining halls. Two campuses will be built in phases, with airmen moving into the first dorm as early as 2011, the base reported.

They will replace 1,000-bed Recruiting, Housing & Training facilities built in the 1960s and 1970s. Lackland had renovated those dorms in past years, but a detailed study was done to determine if it made more sense to revamp or replace them, said John Heye, Lackland's deputy civil engineer.

The analysis also took into account security needs that have evolved in the wake of terrorism threats, as well as how the location of dorms could help training, he said.

“All that said, that's where they came to the conclusion we're better off building these campuses, the new structures. It's a better long-term investment putting that all together in one package,” Heye added.

Though no construction contract has been awarded, the project could include reflective roofs, the ability to recycle rainwater and a solar array.

“For us to get to the next level for our training of all the airmen that are going to be coming through, this is certainly significant not only from the perspective of Lackland, but for the United States Air Force,” LaBrutta said.

“In order for us to meet the requirements of our nation in producing the best warrior-airmen, we've got to have a complex and a training facility that can meet that requirement.”

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Wow....when I went though in 1978 I had to stay in what was called MOBB dorms......left overs from the 50's. I love the fact they will have new buildings, but I hope they are still barricks type. No need to coddle them yet.

Purple

My grandpa went through training in one of the old wooden, 2 story barracks located in the middle field, just off of the Hughes troop walk. 2 or 3 of those are still standing as offices. The rest of my family who went AF (including me) all trained in the current 3 story dorms that line Hughes. Those were probably close to their time. Plus, I think they might have had asbestos in them anyway.

Rest assured Purple, the new dorms will be squad bays, just like the rest of us had.

8 1/2 week Basic? What can you possibly learn about becoming an Airman in 2 extra weeks, that you couldn't learn in 6 1/2? I in no way feel incompetent for a lack of learning anything from Basic. If I had wanted a longer Basic, I would've joined the Army or Marines. Laughing

But I understand. They probably just want a little more parity with the other branches. Out of the 5 branches, the AF has the shortest Basic. But at 8 1/2 weeks, won't they still have the shortest? Laughing

Thanks TC......I stayed in the old 2 story's you mentioned.......At that time they told us there was no room in the Inn so we could stay in the stable! No we were not blessed by doing so, it was the middle of July, no AC....LOL.

As far as another two weeks, well it will be needed to correct cell phone/texting habit. Plus it takes longer now just to teach laundry skills...........they really are lost here!

Purple

Middle of July in SA? Holy Schnike!

The last time I went through Lackland was the middle of last Spring for Enlisted Aircrew Undergrad Course at the Medina Annex. I left in early June, and it was already sucking as far as temp and humidity go.

It must've sucked royally around mid-Summer, in a WWII era barracks with no AC. I have this vision in my head of "Biloxi Blues". Laughing

Laundy skills? They don't even have to fold underwear into 6" squares anymore! They just roll everything up!

I think the extra time is for "Warrior Week" and combat skills stuff that we have to do before we deploy now.

No idea why there's a need for new training dorms. Although I went through in '86, I thought we were in pretty much state of the art dorms. They were very nice compared to the wooden two stories that were still around (I think Drum n Bugle still used them). Each had plenty of room for everyone and included a chow hall, class rooms, and a specialty room. I was in the 3702 (322nd now?) and we had a clinic. The 3701 across the street from us had a laundry shop (pay for).

I stayed in one of the WWII transient barracks when there wasn't room on the bus for me to go to tech school after BMT. It was 4 men to a room (bunk beds) with a day room and heck I thought that was pretty nice! Probably just because I wasn't being yelled at anymore...lol.

I had heard some rumor of a 2 week Warrior Week. I think they need to mow down all of the trees in that $hitbox if they want to make a really realistic "deployed location". Laughing

Yeah, in 1986, those buildings WERE pretty much state of the art. Heh heh! Now, they're just this side of crapola.

Those buildings are following a current AF tradition. All of the old "Creech Brown" buildings should be gone within the next decade.

Quote:

I think they need to mow down all of the trees in that $hitbox if they want to make a really realistic "deployed location".

Hells yeah!!! Laughing

Forum: Air Force Life

900 Million to Lackland for new Basic Training Facilities