Delaware Guard scores millions in base funds

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Delaware Guard scores millions in base funds
By Angie Basiouny - The (Wilmington, Del.) News Journal via Gannett News Service
Posted : Wednesday Apr 9, 2008 6:48:03 EDT

Just three years after being threatened with closure, the Delaware Air National Guard is seeing a surge of millions in federal dollars headed its way for capital-improvement projects.

Officials said the money, which is being appropriated by Congress year by year, will help improve operations and stimulate the local economy. It’s also a sign of the state’s commitment to keeping the base strong.

The Air Guard unit, headquartered at the New Castle Airport, has 300 full-time employees and 1,100 serving members. Its major functions are responding to state emergencies and maintaining homeland security.

“Everyone should realize that our Air Guard base is more than a state asset, it is also a regional and national asset,” Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., said. “They are on call 24-7, every day, every hour, every week. This construction on the base doesn’t just mean work for local contractors and business for service providers, it also means improved wartime capabilities and a better ability to respond to natural disasters.”

The base’s 30-year master plan includes myriad projects, base civil engineer Lt. Col. Mike Castaldi said. Some have been completed recently while others are just getting started, such as the $38 million plan to build a new maintenance hangar for the unit’s fleet of C-130 cargo planes.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/04/gns_delaware_airguard_040808w/