Ribbon cutting

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Col. James Browne, 366th Fighter Wing commander, hands the house keys over to new owner Senior Airman Frederick Mathis, 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron Oct. 16. Airman Mathis, his wife Talmai and daughter Jasmine will be among the first new residents in the housing area. The completion of construction was completed by mid-August and opened up 51 new housing units. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Dana Hill)

Ribbon cutting

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Col. James Browne, 366th Fighter Wing commander, Col. Thomas Laffey, 366th Mission Support Group commander and Col. Mike McCormick, Army Corps of Engineers commander, Seattle District cut the ribbon on the new Base Operations, Radar Approach Control facility and airfield lighting vault facilities. The $8.4 million, 19,000 square-foot building replaced three outdated and maintenance-intensive buildings. It directly supports the wing’s flying mission and the completion of the new lighting vault restores night flying capability. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Dana Hill)

Ribbon cutting

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The new Base Operations, Radar Approach Control facility and airfield lighting vault facilities opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 16. The $8.4 million, 19,000 square-foot building replaced three outdated and maintenance-intensive buildings. The new building directly supports the wing’s flying mission and the completion of the new lighting vault restores night flying capability. (U.S. Air Force photo/Courtesy Photo)

Ribbon cutting: New Base Ops., Phase 5 housing

Published Oct. 17, 2007
By Senior Airman Megan P. Lyon
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- Today marked the grand opening of two large construction projects aimed at bettering the Gunfighter mission and quality of life at Mountain Home.

The new Base Operations, Radar Approach Control facility and airfield lighting vault facilities were placed into a combined working area. The $8.4 million, 19,000 square-foot building replaced three outdated and maintenance-intensive buildings.

"The new building directly supports the flying mission and the completion of the new lighting vault restores night flying capability for the wing," said Col. Mike McCormick, Army Corps of Engineers commander, Seattle District.

In addition to the completion of the new Base Ops. facility, a new section of base housing was opened.

"With the completion of Phase 5 west, 61 new housing units were opened here on James Taylor Circle," said Col. McCormick. "Contractors finished work and people moved into homes on the first loop of the base's Phase 5 project in Oct. 2006, which opened 41 housing units. The second loop of homes in this construction phase was completed by August of this year and opened up 51 units."

As this $34 million construction project opens these new homes, contractors will demolish older homes on base to make way for more construction with the Dunes housing area next on the demolition schedule. That leaves two remaining housing areas for demolition -- Desert Vista and Gunfighter Manor.

The base's military housing construction plan includes eight phases spanning several years. To date, the base has received more than 400 of the new homes.

"The overall success of projects like this is primarily due to strong partnerships like those established and nurtured here in Mountain Home between the 366th Fighter Wing and the design and building teams," said Col. McCormick