Whiteman Army Aviation Support Facility open for business

  • Published
  • By Rachel Knight
  • Missouri National Guard
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - --  The Missouri Army National Guard's 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion held a ribbon cutting ceremony June 4 at the new Army Aviation Support Facility here signifying the completion of the first phase of construction.

"It is truly a magnificent building," said Brig.Gen. Stephen Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard. "Some people only see concrete and steel. I see a building that represents our future and the horizon."

The Secretary of the Army, the Honorable John McHugh, was at the ceremony to help support what the Missouri National Guard has been working on for the past six years.

"Everyone can see the six-plus years of countless planning meetings, months of architecture work, weeks in redesigning, and days of sweat and tedious work," said Lt. Col. Thomas Burson, fulltime facility commander who is currently deployed. "Finally, the newest and most modernized flight facility in the Army and National Guard inventory is complete."

The $34.4 million facility broke ground Aug. 25, 2008, and consists of an 83,235-square-foot masonry and steel facility with a standing-seam pitched metal roof.

The new facility provides eight aircraft outdoor parking pads, an eight-bay aircraft maintenance hangar, allied trades support shops, general administration space and logistical support space. Supporting facilities include a controlled waste handling facility, flammable storage building, aircraft parking and taxiway, parking, exterior lighting, fire protection and security fencing. The Guard took possession of it Feb. 6.

"Construction and the move to this new facility have been exciting, busy and an educational process," said Capt. Fin Carey, acting facility commander. "I just want to thank everyone involved in this process because they have done an outstanding job. I can't be more proud of each and every facility employee or thank them enough for the outstanding job they've done transitioning to this new facility while maintaining a demanding flying schedule and preparing for two full-blown Assessment of Recruit Motivation and Strength inspections."

The Army Aviation Support Facility provides fulltime maintenance and training support for the 1-135th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion. The facility was once housed at Skyhaven Municipal Airport in Warrensburg, Mo., where it began serving the Missouri National Guard Army Aviators in 1952. It has been a part of Whiteman since 1973 and currently is about 400 Soldiers strong. The battalion is divided into six separate companies with a range of duties from a pilot to cook, Apache armament specialist to supply clerk.

"Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 has and always will be the tip of the spear for the Missouri Army Aviation," Colonel Burson said. "For countless years, the facility has not just been meeting the standards but setting the standards."