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Bagram’s first permanent customs building opens

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kevin Tomko
  • 455th Air Expeditionary Wing
BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan --  A new facility opened April 12 to streamline out-processing for service members here. 

The new permanent customs building, the first at Bagram Airfield, officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Army and Air Force officials and members of the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group, the builders of the facility. 

On hand for the ceremony were the 455th Expeditionary Mission Support Group Commander Col. Terri Chaney, the theater provost marshal Army Col. James Gray, deputy commander for base operations Army Lt. Col. James Bonner, provost marshal Army Lt. Col. Antonio Pietri, and deputy provost marshal Army Lt. Col. Ricardo Guerrero. 

"As part of the master plan of this base, this facility will enhance and secure the movement of cargo, equipment and personnel outbound to the continental United States," said Colonel Pietri in a speech. 

Army Sgt. 1st Class Gualberto Gonzalez, the customs non-commissioned officer in charge, said the new $524,000 facility will be a vast improvement over the current facility.
"We have much more room for processing," said Sergeant Gonzalez. "The area is also more secure. The service members will have more facilities, and there are even plans to put in a concession area." 

The new customs building was built entirely by the 1st Expeditionary RED HORSE Group members of this rotation and the one prior. 

Chief Master Sgt. Michael Scott, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the project, said the biggest obstacle in the construction of the building was the weather in the colder months. 

"The roof could only be worked on in fair weather, and the roof had to be closed before any interior work could progress," he said. 

He added that several individuals from RED HORSE pitched in and accomplished extra work outside of their normal Air Force specialties to ensure the building was completed on time.