Officials rebut local newspaper article

  • Published
  • By John Ingle
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  There is a lot of dirt digging, welding and construction taking place at Sheppard to upgrade infrastructure of the Air Force's largest technical training base.

But, contradictory to a Scripps Howard News Service article published in the Times Record News today, the more than $300 million project has been underway for more than five years.

The article suggested Sheppard was to receive $300 million in new construction money and contracts at some point in the future, including seven new dorms and two dining facilities. This supposed new money was to provide facilities for personnel returning from overseas, the article continued, hinting the cause could be as a result of the recent Base Realignment and Closure round.

However, three dormitories, a dining facility and the new Air Operations Complex facility have already been completed. Not at the behest of returning troops or an increase of personnel due to BRAC decisions. Rather, the process began years ago to provide better living arrangements for Sheppard's Airmen-in-training.

"Our Airmen-in-training are our mission; they're the reason Sheppard is here," said Brig. Gen. Richard Devereaux, commander of the 82nd Training Wing. "The new dormitories - the first of which was completed in 2003 - provide a better quality of life for our Airman than the antiquated dorms in which they were living."

A final dormitory in the current student pipeline dormitory plan is scheduled to be completed in January 2008.

According to an Aug. 29, 2003, article in the Sheppard Senator, the original student pipeline dorm plan called for a dorm to be built every year until 2007. But, Lt. Col. Gus Kirkikis, commander of the 82nd Civil Engineer Squadron, said the current dorm under construction will be the final one for Sheppard unless a need for another dorm is identified. The 82nd CES oversees all construction on base.

In addition to the Airmen-in-training dorms, a new 144-bed permanent party dorm was constructed and completed in 2005.