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In the Military
Gregg K. Kakesako
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State funds military center
The new site will host operations of the isle Guard and Reserve
Gov. Linda Lingle has released $6.4 million for design and construction of the first phase of the Big Island's Keaukaha Joint Military Center, which will consolidate operations of the Hawaii Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve units currently stationed at Honokaa, Keaau and the Kuneida facility in Hilo. It also will house the Hawaii Office of Veteran Services. Construction is expected to be completed in the spring of 2010.
The project involves demolishing old buildings on the current Keaukaha Military Reservation site and erecting new buildings on a section of the reservation adjacent to Hilo Airport. The new complex will include an assembly hall, classrooms and learning center, training device and simulation center, offices, locker rooms and showers, vehicle maintenance facilities and parking.
Lingle has also authorized the transfer of $50 million in federal funds from the state Department of Defense to the Department of Accounting and General Services. DAGS was selected to manage the project due to its experience in the design and construction of capital improvement projects across the state, and because recent deployments have understaffed the state defense department's engineering office.
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The U.S. Department of Labor will host a job fair Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DAV Hall at Keehi Lagoon. For more information on all veterans' employment programs offered by the Labor Department, go to www.dol.gv/vets.
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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will honor service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and answer questions about benefits at a reception beginning at noon Friday at the VA Medical Center at Tripler Army Medical Center. Call the VA at 433-0049.
"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other sources by reporter
Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at
gkakesako@starbulletin.com.