Breaking ground: DAFB to build new dorms

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shen-Chia Chu
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Team Dover Airmen and distinguished visitors attended a ground-breaking ceremony for a new quad-style dormitory July 21.
 
Col. Steven Harrison, 436th Airlift Wing commander, Col. Randal Bright, 512th Airlift Wing commander, U.S. Sen. Thomas Carper, U.S. Rep. Mike Castle, Senior Airman Carey Davis, 436th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment and Dorm 401 and 402 dorm council president, Pete Ksenich, Kent Construction, and Mike Wheedleton, Davis, Bowen and Friedel, Inc., dug in their shovels to officially break ground on Dover's newest dormitory.
 
"This is exciting, it's like waiting to see your brand new home being built," said Airman 1st Class James Burns, 436th Mission Support Squadron customer support representative and acting president for Dorm 435. "I believe the new dorms will be a great environment to live in, helping to improve morale." 

The building plan, called Dorms-4-Airmen, will house close to 150 servicemembers ranks E-1 through E-4. The dorm is the first of its kind on Dover Air Force Base; however, the dormitory style is currently in use at other installations throughout the Air Force. 

"Airmen may take more personal pride in their very own living space and it would welcome new Airmen who will automatically meet their neighbors," said Airman Burns. 

Airmen living in the quad-style dorms will each get their own room and bathroom, and 
will share a living room and kitchen between every four members. The current dormitory rooms share a bathroom with a living room area per floor or building. 

"The blend of private and communal resources provides our Airmen with a much larger living space overall," said Colonel Harrison. "It is similar to apartment living and will give our Airmen quality living spaces commensurate with the important jobs they do every day to protect our nation." 

The $14 million four-person apartment-style dormitory is scheduled for completion in Spring 2010. 

"This is definitely worth the wait," said Airman Davis. "As an Airman living in the dorms, I feel appreciated by wing leadership who are making this happen for us."