Andersen AFB: growing to meet its mission

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Orville F. Desjarlais Jr.
  • Air Force Print News
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFPN) --  The eyes of U.S. military leaders are once again focused here to provide peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The strategic importance of Andersen is rejuvenating,” said Col. Michael Boera, the 36th Expeditionary Air Wing commander. “No longer is Andersen the sleepy hollow it’s been known as after World War II and Vietnam.”

In 1972, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, was the site of the one of the most massive buildups of airpower in history. More than 15,000 people and 154 B-52 Stratofortress bombers lined all available flightline space.

The Air Force is again building up the base.

Growth at Andersen AFB will include continued bomber and fighter rotations with the potential for beddown of permanent aircraft. Nearby Northwest Field is turning into an expeditionary combat support training area, while the north ramp may include facilities for fighters like the new F-22A Raptor. The south ramp will see the addition of the Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle mission.

Pacific Air Forces commander Gen. Paul Hester said, “Growth on Guam is inevitable. It requires a lot of planning, and I have the utmost faith that the commander and senior leadership here are hard at work trying to determine the best way ahead.”

There is a lot of planning going on.

The Air Force wants Andersen AFB to host squadrons of bombers, air refueling tankers and fighter/attack aircraft on a regular basis with the capability to ramp up if there is a threat in the Pacific.

That will most certainly come with an increase in the current population of 3,700 permanently assigned Airmen and Department of Defense civilian employees. The increase means the need for base housing and a robust infrastructure.

The Air Force is expanding the mission here because Guam is a strategic location that allows aircraft to be over “enemy” territory within a few hours versus many hours or days.

It is also valuable because as a United States territory, over-flight or landing rights are not required. During times of political uncertainty, the U.S. military always has permission to go to, and operate from, here.

Andersen AFB is at the tip of the “strategic triangle,” which includes bases in Alaska and Hawaii. Combined they are responsible for securing this corner of the world, officials said.

“A robust presence on Guam means the teamwork with the Navy and with our tenant units must continue -- ‘one team, no seams,’” Colonel Boera said.

And it isn’t going to be easy, he said. In the plans is a massive construction blueprint that projects growth through the next decade.

“Because of the sheer volume of construction, we have to multi-phase the project,” said Lt. Col. Marvin Smith, the 36th Civil Engineer Squadron commander.

“We’re taking Andersen and ‘robusting’ it to eliminate a lot of workaround that we currently do,” he said.

Some of today’s challenges include limited maintenance space and adding a corrosion control facility, fuel cell facility, hangar space and a “bird bath” to wash aircraft.

Planned construction projects will include new hangars, a medical and dental clinic, a military working dog facility, water tanks, and a Global Hawk maintenance complex. Down the road, base leadership also wants a new bank, dining facility, maintenance facilities, dorms and base housing.

Planners look to divide the base in two. One will be an industrial area near the air terminal and hangars. The other side will be an area containing a new base exchange, theater and mall, and in time, hopefully a new commissary.

With so much activity going on, Andersen AFB is shaking off its old bed-and-breakfast image, Colonel Boera said.

“Andersen can no longer be called a Sleepy Hollow,” he said. “We’re as active as any other Air Force base, and we go about our business with a sense of passion, trust and pride. I’m proud to be a part of the team here.”