BEAR Base saves money, supports mission Published March 22, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Chase Cannon 49 Wing Public Affairs HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) -- The Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources (BEAR) Base at Holloman Air Force Base recently saved the Air Force more than $5 million in assets through recovery and refurbishment of deployed electrical distribution equipment. Slowing deployment rates have reduced the demand for much of the equipment in use overseas, which raises the question of what to do with this equipment and where to store it. "With drawdowns in overseas locations, anything that is no longer going to be in use, they send it back to us so we can put it into redistribution," said Tech. Sgt. Maurice Parker, an electrical systems craftsman. BEAR Base has the capability to restore and repair many Air Force assets, including the 120 Secondary Distribution Centers that were recently brought in from the Air Force Central Command's area of responsibility. "We bring the units in for maintenance, check for structure damage, clean the bushings and test it," said Airman Clay Clark, an electrical systems apprentice. "After we know it's all good to go we put it into storage until it will be needed for a future deployment." The SDCs function as transformer units, taking higher voltages and dropping them down to function for assets within tents and kitchens in deployed environments. BEAR Base can provide many deployable assets anywhere in the world. Within 22 days, BEAR Base Airmen can supply, train and build a fully operational airfield or forward operating base to support any operation, including combat and humanitarian missions. These bases can support 2,500 to 3,500 deployed members and up to 75 aircraft. The assets saved during this drawdown will support global missions during future deployments, ensuring power is properly distributed throughout deployed locations.