AF official praises Keesler recovery, emphasizes challenges ahead

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Dan Neely
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFPN) --  Having visited just days after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the base, the Air Force’s point man for installations returned here May 11 to assess Keesler’s overall progress toward full restoration. 

Lt. Gen. Donald Wetekam, Air Force deputy chief of staff for logistics, installations and mission support, took a close look at some of the base’s hardest-hit facilities and received a briefing from base officials on where each facility stands on the comeback trail. 

“We still have a long way to go here, especially in relation to recovery of base services -- all the things we do for our military members and our families like getting a permanent solution to the BX, commissary, the club, recreational activities, and most importantly, housing -- but we’re moving forward on that at a good pace,” the general said. 

General Wetekam said Air Force leaders are particularly encouraged to see some rapid short-term progress in restoration of military family housing availability at Keesler. 

“Obviously we always want to be able to move faster, but frankly I think we’re moving forward at an acceptable pace," he said.  "First, we have more than 400 units that are occupied today that will grow to 600 for temporary occupancy. That’s very important, getting our family members back. 

“Second and more importantly, very soon we are looking to award the largest military construction housing contract we’ve ever awarded in the Air Force for 1,067 new construction units, and that’s the long-term solution for housing issues here,” General Wetekam said. 

“All of the senior leaders in the Air Force are committed to restoring the mission of the base, which has largely been accomplished, and then restoring the support infrastructure and capability of the base, which we are in the middle of doing. We’re going to make Keesler what it was prior to Hurricane Katrina, and we’re well down that path,” the general said.

“Fortunately, there was relatively minor damage to mission facilities and most of that recovery has been accomplished,” he said, “but our current priorities are housing, the medical center and support activities like the BX and commissary.” 

General Wetekam praised base efforts to bring about temporary solutions in areas where permanent solutions remain months to years away. 

“The commissary folks have done a terrific job making do with another facility and supporting the base," he said.  "As far as (morale, welfare and recreation) facilities, we had an opportunity to see those that are up and running.  They’re not perfect, they’re not ideal, but they work to support the population. 

“We’re talking about a huge undertaking here to rebuild a base that was devastated by a natural disaster,” the general emphasized. “In that rebuilding process, clearly there are going to be some stumbles and stops and starts; but the truth is, if you look at where we were last August and September and where we are today, there’s been huge progress made.” 

General Wetekam made it clear that Keesler has plenty of people interested in its restoration process. 

“This is not Keesler Air Force Base people on their own trying to restore their base,” he said. “The entire leadership and resources of the Air Force are committed to rebuilding Keesler, and that’s what we’re about. We all track this every day. That’s why I’m here, to see where we are and what we can do better in moving this (process) forward.” 

Having made multiple visits to Keesler since Katrina hit, General Wetekam noted what stood out most in his mind about Keesler people. 

“Even during the first visit, it was the spirit everybody exhibited." he said.  "A lot of people had just lost their homes, most or all of their belongings, and yet they were so focused, even at that time, on getting the mission of the base back up.  Within three weeks, classes were being taught when most people thought it would take three months. And when you look around today, Keesler is up and operating full force. 

“Clearly there’s a can-do attitude here,” the general said. “Despite the hardships everybody’s going through, there’s a focus on the mission and a very strong sense of community. Hard times and adversity tend to bring people together, and that’s clearly evident here. There’s a family atmosphere here at Keesler that you don’t see many other places.”