New deployment center officially opened Aug. 2

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Hrair H. Palyan
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Airmen from various groups and invited guests gathered Aug. 2 for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of the base's new deployment center.

"This is a historic day for Ellsworth Air Force Base," said Lt. Col. Anthony Mims, 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, and the master of ceremonies for the event. "We celebrate the conclusion of a four-year project and the opening of the new deployment center that will truly be a multi-use facility for the entire base."

Construction on the new, 55,000 square foot facility began in March 2011 and was completed on May 15, 2012. The $16.9 million facility optimizes the deployment processes of the base by housing all aspects of passenger and cargo processing under one roof. Several classrooms for all pre-deployment and mobility training, large briefing rooms, passenger holding areas, passenger screening areas, a state-of-the-art control center, combined office areas, and mechanized material handling systems for baggage and cargo are among the many features of the new facility.

"Everything is under one roof," said Rick Schroeder, 28th Bomb Wing installation deployment officer."There are other deployment facilities in the Air Force, but this is the only one we are aware of that houses passenger and cargo processing and pre-deployment training under one roof."

Schroeder said the new deployment center has the most up-to-date, state-of-the-art communication systems, command and control elements, and cargo processing equipment available.

The base has already put the center through its paces, proving it improves the quality of processing personnel and cargo during the deployment of more than 350 Airmen July 21.

"This facility is the last stop before our Airmen deploy," said Col. Mark Weatherington, 28th Bomb Wing commander. "Less time spent in the deployment center means more time they can spend with their families and loved ones before they depart. This new facility streamlines the entire deployment process."

The old deployment facility, constructed more than 60 years ago, was originally designed as an aircraft maintenance facility and was also utilized as a missile maintenance facility in the 1970s and 1980s. In the early 90s, it became the wing deployment center and personnel assigned to the facility worked around the clock to keep it presentable and operating properly.

"This facility represents the hard work of many professionals over a span of several years," Mims said. "What we are here today to celebrate is the result of that hard work."