News Release

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) has helped secure $31.5 million for three new projects at Shaw AFB - a dorm, a storage facility, and an aircraft apron to support its homeland security mission.  The projects won House approval today in a bill funding military construction.

“These projects will improve readiness at Shaw,” said Spratt.  “Shaw needs new enlisted dorms and has needed an equipment storage facility for some time.  The aircraft apron is part of a three-phase project to bed-down active Air Force and Air Guard units involved in Operation Noble Eagle, who are ready twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week to intercept threats. This locks in a homeland security mission for Shaw.”

Spratt said the House approved $16 million to build a 144-room dormitory, $6.2 million to build a storage facility for aerospace ground equipment, and $9.3 million to build an aircraft apron. The homeland security mission will eventually include a full alert facility for defense of coastal states, operated jointly by Shaw and the Air National Guard.  Shaw already supplies such defense, but space is limited.

“Aircraft parking is a problem,” said Spratt.  “Aircraft used for coastal state defense are dislocating Shaw’s primary mission F-16s.  Each carries different munitions, and putting the two together can create unnecessary hazards.”

Spratt said the new mission reflects the Pentagon’s “joint basing” concept.  “The Pentagon favors joint basing,” said Spratt, “and this mission, along with the incoming Third Army from Fort McPherson, puts Shaw in good standing should base closure come around again.”

Spratt cautioned that the Senate, and a House-Senate conference committee, must still act on the funding for the projects.  But he said House approval today is a significant first step in the process, and a good sign for final approval.

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