Military

2nd Lt. Tracy Giles

86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) -- One look around the KMC will reveal concrete foundations, brick walls, new roads, green fences and construction cranes.  Construction sites scattered throughout the KMC include piles of dirt, holes in the ground, bulldozers and hard hats everywhere.  

All of this is part of a more than $2 billion construction plan that will continue over the next nine years, said Capt. Dan Black, chief of construction management for the 86th Civil Engineer Group. 

"Our mission is to transform the KMC through restoration and modernization projects, transitioning from Rhein-Main Air Base to Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Bases, and renovating or replacing military family housing," Black said.

Many projects are underway and are scheduled to be completed in the next two years with more to follow, he said.  "We are changing the face of KMC." 

One of two major projects nearing completion is the 86th Contingency Response Group building.  It is a two-story headquarters facility designed to accommodate command, administration, intelligence, planning and communications functions for the 86th CRG, said Steve Escude, military construction program management chief for U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

Escude said the second project nearing completion is the golf course clubhouse, which includes kitchen and service areas, a steak house, snack bar, special function area, pro shop and golfer's wing that provides locker rooms and showers.

"The golf course clubhouse was funded with 100 percent non-appropriated funds," said Black.  "These funds are not generated from taxpayers dollars."

Other major projects that are currently underway include:

- Northeast traffic circle

- Kisling Road realign

- Enlisted club

- Enlisted dormitory

- Air Freight Terminal

- HQ AIRNORTH

One of 86th CEG's largest projects is the new Air Freight Terminal, a state of the art facility, costing approximately $26.5 million and funded through multiple sources, said Black.  Funding will come through the Military Construction Program, Air Force Materiel Command equipment money and the Rhein-Main closure agreement.

Black said approximately 485 personnel from Air Mobility Command, Army and contractors will work in the new Air Freight Terminal.

One unique feature of the new terminal, the Mechanized Material Handling System, will double the amount of freight Ramstein can handle, Black said. 

"This is a fully automated high-bay warehouse," Black said.  "The system can automatically store and retrieve pallets in four storage levels and has a storage capacity of up to 534 pallets."

One large proposed project, the KMC Center, is still in the design phase, said Ben Roth, USAFE Command Architect.

Roth said two projects comprise the KMCC. The first is a military construction funded project consisting of sitework, roadways and utilities; this project will support the base in general as well as the retail and entertainment center known as the KMCC.

Roth said the design of the building is expected to begin in May 2003, with an award for construction in September 2004.

The KMCC will be comprised of retail space, concession space, a food court, four theaters, a restaurant, a sports lounge, an outdoor recreation office, a travel agency, and a 350-room visiting quarters for official government travelers. 

"Many of these components exist elsewhere in the KMC and are being relocated and improved in this new location," said Roth.

 According to Roth, the facility is funded from several different fund sources.  Non-appropriated funds will fund the lion's share of the project, including all retail and entertainment activities. 

"Both Army and Air Force Exchange Services and Air Force Services are providing the NAF dollars necessary to design and construct the facility," said Roth.  "The only appropriated funds used in the facility are to construct the bank, the credit union and two theaters."

A third source of money for the project is from the Rhein-Main Transition Program funding 200 of the visiting quarters rooms.  Even after the construction of the 350-room VQ, there will still be a need for off-base lodging for official travelers, said Roth.

The RMTP Agreement is a program to transition the strategic airlift capability from Rhein-Main to Ramstein and Spangdahlem, said Black.

According to the RMTP Web site, the mission transition must take place by Dec. 31, 2005.  At the completion of the mission transition, the U.S. base at Rhein-Main will be closed and the property will be turned back to the German government for planned airport expansion.

The Web site said the USAFE project management office planners for RMTP are working with headquarters and staffs from both wings at Spangdahlem and Ramstein to work out the milestones and details associated with the mission transitions and the closure of Rhein-Main.

-- USAFENS --