Base readies for BRAC build-up

Published Nov. 14, 2006
By Capt. David Faggard
314th Strategic Information Flight

LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- Members of Headquarters Air Force, Air Education and Training Command and Air Mobility Command are here this week planning the "Home of the Herk's" future regarding implementation of the Base Realignment and Closure process, otherwise known as BRAC.
The team's goals while here are to establish a plan for the beddown of 24 additional AMC C-130s; to identify actions and issues associated with the moves; and to identify key organizations, people and any potential resource problems, said Mrs. Kaye Pruit, AMC BRAC Team chief.
Under BRAC, Little Rock AFB will increase the amount of AMC aircraft to 52 C-130s and four flying squadrons and decrease AETC aircraft to 24 with two flying squadrons. AMC personnel will increase 1,346 and AETC will lose 1,032. The numbers reflect a net increase of 315 Airmen for the base. The increase doesn't reflect family members.
Areas being looked at by the team include Simulators, Life Support, Squadron and Maintenance Operations, Logistics, Civil Engineering, Communications and Environmental to name a few.
According to Capt. Bill Cone, AMC deputy team chief, the BRAC actions at Little Rock AFB are big and may bring additional challenge, that's why the teams are here.
"We're here to make sure we're on track to carry out BRAC actions within the appropriate timeline," the captain said.
Daily "wrap up" sessions will be conducted to ensure the headquarters team and members of the base team are on the same sheet of paper with regards to implementing any decisions. More than $47 million will go to BRAC construction on the base.
"We have a vested interest here," said Brig. Gen. Kip Self, 314th Airlift Wing commander. "My staff is here to ensure we facilitate the SATAF and provide details. The most important thing is for Little Rock to be successful in the long run."
The current BRAC mandate is that the 463rd Airlift Group will stand up to an operational combat wing. This will leave three wings on base, the 314th Airlift Wing for training, the 189th Airlift Wing for training and supporting state missions.
"The team needs to look very closely at AFSO21 [Air Force Smart Operation's 21] to ensure we're not duplicating anything," said General Self. "We need to ensure we take care of our people, continue to train Airmen and deploy combat ready warfighters to battle, while most efficiently using our resources and taxpayer's dollars."