News Release

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. John Spratt (D-SC) announced today that the Army will spend at least $82 million to build new facilities at Shaw Air Force Base to support the Third Army, which is relocating from Fort McPherson, Georgia.

“When Third Army comes to Shaw, they will need a number of support facilities,” said Spratt.  “These will have to be built from scratch.”

Spratt said the Army estimates, to date, that it will spend $2.9 million on design, $13.8 million on barracks, and $65.3 million on other facilities, including a headquarters for Third Army, support battalion, vehicle maintenance, base entry control point, and a small arms range equipped with combat arms training facilities.

“We’re delighted to welcome the Third Army to Shaw,” said Spratt.  “This move reflects the Pentagon’s ‘joint basing’ concept, and puts Shaw in strong standing for the future.” 

The relocation of Third Army to Shaw is directed by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission and is scheduled to take place from 2009 to 2011.

Spratt said that he had been concerned about funding for the new Third Army facilities. He sent a letter in January asking where, when, and how much money would be coming to Shaw, and followed up by meeting with Defense Department officials to clarify their answers.

“The Army has now made clear the investment it plans to make at Shaw,” said Spratt.  “Fortunately, it appears that funding for these facilities will come out of a transition fund, already appropriated as part of the base closing process.  This is good news for Sumter and good news for Shaw.”

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