New projects improve base

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Matthew Hubby
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  With so many construction projects going on at Dover Air Force Base, Del., it can be hard to remember what has been completed and what is still underway. As 2012 begins, there are a number of projects that are nearing completion or will be completed this year.

Two such projects in the works are the new chapel center, located between the Airmen dormitories and the shoppette, and the new consolidated communications facility located behind the old telecommunications facility. The chapel began work January 2011 and is scheduled for completion in August. The new communications facility was started October 2010 and is also scheduled to be completed in August.

Both of these projects follow the completion of a new fitness center, which opened Dec. 16, 2011. The demolition of the old fitness center is scheduled to begin by Jan. 18 with the parking lot for the new facility to be completed by April.

Also in the works are two other projects, a C-5/C-17 maintenance training facility, and a C-5M formal training unit facility. The maintenance facility began work in October 2011, and is scheduled for completion in July of 2013. The formal training unit facility is scheduled to begin work this year with a planned completion date of 2013 or 2014.

Some of these projects will be completed through the use of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which totals more than $54 million.

"We received so much money because we had executable plans and projects ready to go," said John Sclesky, programs flight chief for the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron. "We had bona fide projects for quality-of-life and infrastructure the stimulus program was really focusing on."

The base showcased these projects in October 2011, when the Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce hosted a military-construction breakfast for military, business and political leaders. The breakfast was held at the Dover AFB Landings Club, and brought Delaware congressional delegates and military leaders together to overview the construction on base and discusses future plans.

The delegation was briefed on past and current projects as well as plans for future projects into the next four years. It also highlighted Dover AFB's more than 85 capital-improvement projects in the works, which total more than $235 million.

Another project showcased was the Liberty Park project, which constructed a new play area for children in base housing. The project was constructed primarily from funds from the Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award.

"Military-construction supports the mission at Dover AFB," said Sclesky. "It brings in important infrastructure and enterprise facilities. Not only does it bring us new facilities, but the support we garner from the community and congressional delegates has a real impact on our mission, their support really helps us deliver."