News Release

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) announced today that the expansion of Shaw Air Force Base is now official, with House affirmation of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission’s recommendations.

Listen to remarks by Rep. Spratt

The House overwhelmingly approved the BRAC recommendations the President sent to Capitol Hill last month, which not only kept Shaw open but expanded the base by over 800 jobs.

"I am pleased that Shaw has cleared the final hurdle in this base closure round," Spratt said.  "We've been through this process four times before, and I hope that this round will be the last for a long time to come.  I'm happy for Shaw and for Sumter."

Shaw is home to the Air Force’s largest combat wing of F-16’s.  Shaw also hosts the Headquarters of Ninth Air Force, the air component of Central Command Air Forces.

One of the BRAC recommendations calls for Shaw to gain Headquarters Third Army, the Army’s equivalent of the Ninth Air Force, now based at Fort McPherson in Atlanta.  The addition is estimated to bring some 742 uniform personnel and 75 civilian personnel to the area, though final numbers are not yet known.

"We are looking forward to having Third Army join the Sumter community," Spratt said.  "I think they will enjoy the same good will and support that Air Force personnel and their families have enjoyed for years.”

Spratt attributed Shaw’s success in the base closure round in part to improvements made to the base year after year.  “In some years our allocation was relatively small -- $2 million to improve the youth center and $3.3 million for a base library,” said Spratt.  “In other years we were more fortunate, gaining $8.5 million for a deployment processing center and $6.8 million for aircraft maintenance facilities.  But piece by piece, we rebuilt Shaw from top to bottom.  We have all seen the impact these steady improvements have made, and the Pentagon and BRAC Commission took notice too.”

Spratt said his efforts to improve Shaw will continue, even though the current base closure round is over.  "Modernizing Shaw is a continual process.  I am seeking this year $9.7 million for a new communications center and $6.3 million for a new ammunition bunker. These improvements, coupled with the construction we will need to accommodate the Third Army, will only enhance Shaw’s posture as a modern military installation,” he said.

Spratt said the key to Shaw’s success was community support and team effort, and he praised the Sumter officials who represented the community throughout the BRAC process.  "Mayor Joe McElveen, Former Mayor Steve Creech, Major General (Ret.) Tom Olson, and the BRAC committee all did a superb job for Shaw and Sumter. This was a team effort and a victory for the whole community.”

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