Dedication times two at Seymour Johnson

  • Published
  • By Maj. Shannon Mann
  • 916th Public Affairs Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AFB, N.C. --  More than a 100 military members, community and business leaders turned out to see the dedication of two new buildings at the 916th Air Refueling Wing. 

After 18 months of construction, 916th Corrosion Control Hangar and 911th Air Refueling Squadron operations building opened for business on Aug 14. 

The 911 ARS is an activeassociate squadron attached operationally to the Air Force Reserve's 916 ARW and administratively to the 6th Air Mobility Wing. 

Goldsboro community leaders, 4th Fighter Wing leadership and 6th Air Mobility Wing leadership came to participate in the celebration and get a look at the new facility. In attendance for the 6 AMW were: Col. Slim Morgan, 6th Operations Group commander; Lt. Col. Jen Uptmor, 310 Airlift Squadron commander; Lt. Col. Scott Gundlach, 6th Operations Support Squadron commander; Lt. Col. Brian Smith, 91st Air Refueling Squadron commander and Chief Nathan Peachey, 6 OG superintendent. 

Not only do the buildings offer the latest and greatest in energy efficient technology, but the KC-135 simulator is a needed, and exciting, addition. 

"This is an outstanding facility that was specifically designed for this mission and the unique requirements of an active duty associate unit," said Colonel Morgan. "It will allow much deeper integration than is currently possible and will produce a more efficient and effective total force team." 

This project is also unique because it was the first time in Seymour-Johnson AFB history that a local contractor was awarded a major building contract on the base. 

"The pride in craftsmanship was obvious in both the squadron operations building as well as the hangar," said Colonel Morgan. 

The new top-notch building now mirrors the already outstanding relationship between the 916 ARW and 911 ARS. 

"To say the active association with the 916th is working well is an understatement," said Colonel Morgan, who's last job was overseeing the standup and manning of all active associations in Air Mobility Command. "I have see all of the current and future associations up close, and this relationship it the benchmark active association." 

The 6 AMW will stand up a second active associate squadron with the Alabama Air National Guard later this year in Birmingham, Alabama. 

Additional reporting for this article was done by 1st Lt. Rebecca Heyse, 6 AMW Public Affairs.