News>New 302nd AW building for C-130 operations opens at Peterson
Story at a Glance
• New facility marks milestone in AF Reserve, Active Duty TFI
Photos
Air Force Reserve Col. Jay Pittman Jr., 302nd Airlift Wing Commander, (left) and Col. Brian Robinson, 19th Airlift Wing commander, cut through a ribbon July 17. The ceremony officially dedicated the newest building in the 302nd Airlift Wing's Total Force Integration campus at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The building will house the AF Reserve's 731st Airlift Squadron as well as the Active Duty 52nd Airlift
Squadron. The 52nd AS, a subordinate organization within the 19th AW based
at Little Rock AFB, Ark., associated with the 302nd AW in October 2009 (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield).
Air Force Reserve Col. Jay Pittman, Jr. (left), 302nd Airlift Wing commander, shakes hands with Col. Brian Robinson, 19th Airlift Wing commander, after the two cut the ribbon July 17 officially dedicated the newest building in the 302nd Airlift Wing's Total Force Integration campus at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. The building will house the AF Reserve's 731st Airlift Squadron as well as the Active Duty 52nd Airlift Squadron. The 52nd AS, a subordinate organization within the 19th AW based at Little Rock AFB, Ark., associated with the 302nd AW in October 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Collier)
Members of the 302nd Airlift Wing, 19th Airlift Wing and civic leaders from
both Colorado Springs, Colo., and Little Rock, Ark., gather in the courtyard
of the Total Force Integration campus July 17 at Peterson Air Force Base,
Colo. Soon after, leadership from both the 302nd AW and 19th AW participated
in a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially dedicate the newest building that
will be home to the Active Duty 52nd Airlift Squadron and the Air Force
Reserve's 731st Airlift Squadron. The 52nd AS, assigned to the 19th AW based
at Little Rock AFB, Ark., associated with the AF Reserve's 302nd AW in
October 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Daniel Butterfield)
by Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Collier
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
7/17/2012 - PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- With a snip of the ceremonial scissors, Air Force Reserve and Active Duty Airmen ushered in the opening of a new Total Force C-130 operations facility July 17 here.
The new $5.6 million facility is the next milestone in the 302nd Airlift Wing's integration with the Active Duty 52nd Airlift Squadron. The 12,500-square foot building will house both the 52nd AS and the AF Reserve's 731st Airlift Squadron under one roof. The two squadrons, as well as C-130 Hercules aircraft maintenance, merged under the Air Force's Total Force Integration program.
Known as 'TFI,' the integration allows Active Duty, Air National Guard and AF Reserve organizations to make more efficient use of facilities, personnel and aircraft. For the 52nd AS and 302nd AW, that means performing both training and real-world airlift and airdrop missions together, as well as matching maintenance personnel to maintain the wing's 12 tactical airlift aircraft.
Officiating the historic moment, leadership from both the AF Reserve and Air Mobility Command took center stage to cut the bright, red ribbon. Grasping the scissors, AF Reserve Col. Jay Pittman, 302nd AW commander, and Col. Brian Robinson, 19th AW commander from Little Rock AFB, Ark., sliced through the ribbon, marking the official opening of the facility.
Just before the ribbon cutting, Pittman stood in front of the audience, highlighting the significance of the day's event.
"We've been waiting over a year for this building to be finished. It's been worth the wait and this is a fabulous facility," Pittman said. "I love talking about this TFI; I believe in it and I'm passionate about it. From day one, the 52nd AS pulled together, and since then we've been through combat together and we've been inspected together. This building is really going to be the icing on the cake. It's the last piece we need to look like a long-term, professional organization. We used to call this [area] the Reserve campus; this is now the TFI campus."
Pittman pointed out some of the highlights of the new facility, including a 200-seat auditorium, which he said was necessary for the many organizations looking for adequate space on Peterson. The colonel said he was also excited to see continued improvements in the area, with a newly-landscaped courtyard, lighting and a partially-covered area.
The colonel also proudly proclaimed his vision for the new facility.
"This campus is going to be the showcase of the Air Force Reserve Command and the TFI community at large."
Mirroring the Active Duty relationship with their AF Reserve counterparts here, Robinson also spoke highly of the TFI partnership.
"I can tell you that Colonel Pittman has the same amount of enthusiasm about this project that he had over our very first phone call," Robinson said. "I just want to say thanks to all the organizations out here that have taken care of the 52nd AS. You know, I don't worry about this unit at all. Everyone here is committed to success and they're doing it right."
The 52nd AS, which first activated in October 2009, has seen their share of combat deployments. The squadron has deployed several times, supporting tactical airlift and airdrop operations throughout Southwest Asia. The squadron achieved full operational capability in late 2011 as its end strength reach approximately 200 Airmen.
