$300 million The Bush administration has proposed spending nearly $303 million in military projects for Hawaii, including $62.9 million to bring a new C-17 jet transport squadron to Hickam Air Force Base.
proposed for isle
military projects
Plans include housing at
Schofield and a C-17 jet
transport squadron at HickamBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comThe budget proposal also contains another $98 million to continue a nearly $1 billion housing renewal project for single enlisted soldiers at Schofield Barracks.
Overall, the Department of Defense's 2004 Military Construction and Family Housing appropriation request totals $9 billion, the same amount requested last year.
The $62.9 million for the C-17 project is the first increment in an Air Force program to locate one of two new jet transport squadrons at Hickam by 2005.
At a briefing for business and political leaders last month, Maj. Gen. Gary Trexler, Pacific Air Forces director of air and space operations, said the Air Force hopes to assign eight C-17 jet transports to Hickam Air Force Base by the fall of 2005. The planes would be part of a 500-member squadron composed of active Air Force and Hawaii Air National Guard personnel.
The jets are part of a plan to make the military more mobile and to support the Army's new Stryker brigades. One of these brigades is supposed to be activated at Schofield Barracks if Congress supports the proposal.
Trexler said construction of the facilities needed to support the jet transports should begin late next year. The total cost of the project, which also includes stationing eight C-17s in Alaska, will be $152.7 million.
For the C-17 project at Hickam, the Bush administration is asking for $10.8 million for squadron operations, $30.5 million for corrosion control and maintenance, $5.7 million for a flight simulator, $8.1 million for a maintenance facility, $4.5 million to begin building support utilities and $3.3 million to upgrade Kuntz Gate and the adjacent road.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A C-17 squadron is planned for Hickam Air Force Base. Here, cargo to be shipped in support of Operation Enduring Freedom awaits loading at a C-17 Globemaster III cargo transport plane at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.
U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie said there is still a long way to go before construction begins.
"There are always fierce battles over the (military construction) money, and I'll be fighting hard to protect every penny for Hawaii," he said.
The Schofield Barracks housing project includes $49 million to replace the quarters at Capron Road and another $49 million to renew the barracks at Quad E. Other Army projects at Schofield include $18 million for an information systems building and $33 million for a new training facility.
Of the 37 barracks at Schofield, 50 percent were built before 1922. Their average age is 58 years. At one time most of them were open bays where soldiers were housed together and slept in bunk beds with community latrines. In the new barracks, which resemble high-rise apartment complexes, soldiers have their own room but share a bathroom. The buildings are air-conditioned and are wired for cable television and individual phone service.
More than 4,300 barracks space for single enlisted soldiers under the rank of sergeant will be upgraded or constructed.
At Pearl Harbor, $32 million is earmarked for waterfront improvements and $7 million for security lights.
