Kingsley Field breaks ground on the Joint Armed Forces Reserve Center

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Shirar
  • 173rd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KALMATH FALLS, Ore. --  After ten years of planning and development the Joint Armed Forces Reserve Center (JAFRC) is officially underway June 9. Members of the Oregon Air and Army National Guard along with U.S. Representative Greg Walden (R-Ore.) gathered together for a ground breaking ceremony held at Kingsley Field, Klamath Falls, Ore.

When completed the building will house the 173rd Security Forces Squadron and Charlie Troop, 1-82nd Cavalry, Oregon Army National Guard.

The new facility, located near the base's recently constructed main entrance, will provide office, storage and training space for both the Army and Air Guard units set to inhabit it. Currently both units are housed in outdated buildings that are slated for demolition.

"The (JAFRC) will greatly add to the training and storage capabilities of the 173rd SFS. It will replace an outdated building with a much more efficient one," said Lt. Col. Martin Balakas, 173rd Fighter Wing Executive Support Officer.

The new facilities blueprints conform to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver standards, and meet or exceed the requirements of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

"It is another example of Kingsley Field's dedication to environmental awareness and stewardship of public resources," added Balakas.

In addition to decreasing the base's environmental footprint, the building will help to increase the unit's readiness and organization.

Currently the 173rd SFS is spread out between four different buildings across the base. Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Stickel, 173rd Security Forces Manager, says this can be a hindrance.

"This building has been a long time coming and I look forward to finally getting the whole squadron under one roof. Doing so will help increase our unit cohesion," added Stickel.

The JAFRC is actually a multi-phase project. The first phase, currently under way, encompasses only the Air Guard portion of the building and it should be completed within a year.

The second phase will include the Army Guard section of the facility; however, implementation of the second phase depends on additional federal funding.