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New ATOC opens doors

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. James Law
  • 455 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan --  The opening of a new Air Terminal Operations Center here was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 29. 

"This is another milestone in our objective to transition from an expeditionary aerial port to a strategic one," said Col. Barry Mines, 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group commander and the ceremony's host. "It also significantly improves the synergistic efforts between the Army's Arrival Departure Aerial Control Group and the U.S. Air Force." 

One of the organizations that will operate out of the 7,600 square-foot building is the Army's ADACG. 

"I think the opening of the new, upgraded facility is a move in the right direction...giving servicemen and women a better place to work and do their job," said Command Sergeant Major Thomas Capel, Combined Joint Task Force-82. 

Other organizations moving their operations into the new ATOC building include the command post, maintenance operations center, Combined Battle Staff and Survival Recovery Center, traffic management office, the cargo distribution team, the movement control team, and offices for the cargo yard and logistics readiness squadron leadership.

"This facility enables the aerial port for the first time to encompass all the aerial port functions under one roof," said Colonel Mines. 

Colonel Mines continued his remarks thanking the 819th RED HORSE Squadron for their "herculean efforts" completing the project. 

"With every construction project there are always many challenges, and they (RED HORSE) overcame those challenges with their can-do attitude," said Colonel Mines.
Some of the challenges were replacing a faulty septic tank, delays receiving materials, receiving the wrong materials and additional customer requirements. 

Airmen from the 820th RED HORSE Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., started the U.S. Air Forces Central funded $740,000 project during the summer of 2007 while deployed here with the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group. Airmen from the 819th RED HORSE Squadron, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., replaced the 820th October 2007, and worked more than 20,000 hours towards completing the project Feb. 15. 

"This project will definitely streamline many of our processes and I know the occupants are going to truly enjoy working in this facility," said Colonel Mines. 

The ceremony concluded with a guided tour of the facility by the project manager Staff Sgt. Chris Ankoviak, 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group.