 |
| News > Plans in place to spend $1 million IEA winnings at Spangdahlem AB |
|
Plans in place to spend $1 million IEA winnings at Spangdahlem AB
Posted 5/16/2011 Updated 5/16/2011
Email story
Print story
by Master Sgt. Kelley J. Stewart
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
5/16/2011 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- More than 30 service members, U.S. and German national civilian employees, and family members from here received the Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence and Special Recognition Award May 2 through 6 in Washington.
It was during this trip that Undersecretary of the Air Force Erin Conaton awarded Col. Christopher Weggeman, the 52nd Fighter Wing commander, $1 million to spend on quality-of-life projects here.
The wing's leadership asked the base populace for ideas on projects the money should be spent on if the base won this award, and more than 50 ideas were submitted but had to be pared down. Now, the wing commander has a list of 10 projects that are going to be funded with the IEA money.
"We are prioritizing the money in line with what they asked for the most," Colonel Weggeman said. "A lot of people will potentially be disappointed their specific idea didn't make it, but again, we had (more than) 50 ideas and only $1 million. We had to apply a democratic process of majority rules.
"Some of the ideas cost more than the $1 million we got," Colonel Weggeman said. "We prioritized ... and built a list of the top 15 inputs that were feasible using all the inputs we got from the Airmen."
The first quality-of-life issue on the list was refurbishing the theater, and the second item on the list was establishing a "Kid's Zone" on base, officials said. The list of IEA projects to be funded also includes a full upgrade of the chapel's kitchen, a paved walking and biking trail around housing, upgrading the women's locker room showers, upgrading family picnic areas basewide, purchasing new Christmas tree lighting, purchasing library media, purchasing more equipment for the base fitness center, and installing the IEA sign at the front gate.
The wing commander has directed the 52nd Civil Engineer Squadron to put signs up at every project that is being funded with IEA money so people can see where the money is being spent.
Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz announced that Spangdahlem AB had been selected as the 2011 Installation Excellence Award winner Feb. 15.
According to Air Force Instruction 36-2831, the CINC's Annual Awards for Installation Excellence is awarded to Department of Defense installations that have done the best with their resources to support the mission. Each of the military services has an IEA recipient. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
