Power of AFIMSC enterprise keeps Thule Defenders on target

  • Published
  • By Armando Perez
  • AFIMSC Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – A recent visit to Thule Air Base, Greenland, by the Air Force chief of staff prompted AFIMSC to take action to increase the readiness and lethality of Defenders there.

Gen. David L. Goldfein met with Airmen of the 821st Air Base Group during his July 20-21 visit. During the discussion, security forces members informed him of limitations they were facing for small arms sustainment training. Although a future firing range will be in place and completed by 2021, Goldfein assured the Defenders they’d have an interim solution in place by the end of the year.

AFIMSC Detachment 1 reached out to the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron at Peterson AFB, Colorado and the 821st to integrate efforts with AFSPC and Headquarters Air Force. Thule is the home to the 21st SW global network of sensors providing missile warning, space surveillance and space control.

“Det 1 led weekly stakeholder meetings to evaluate alternatives for the wing commander and a modular firing range was determined to be the best option,” said Col. Greg Reich, Detachment 1 commander.

“The collaboration our enterprise participated in ensured this could get done in a short amount of time rather than the initial 2021 goal.”

Primary subordinate units involved in the process, such as the Air Forces Security Forces Center, Air Force Civil Engineer Center and the AFIMSC Installation Support Directorate, along with AFSPC and HAF, steered the requirements to ensure the temporary range would adequately support Thule's training needs.

The work done by the Air Force Installation Contracting Center Detachment at AFSPC facilitated the expedited purchased of the modular firing range, along with other contracting offices, to deliver it by Dec 31. AFIMSC's Resources Directorate led an expedited Economic Analysis to ensure the modular range met requirements for funding as a temporary or “relocatable” facility.

Maj. Gen. Tom Wilcox, AFIMSC commander, appreciated the team effort involved in taking care of the Airmen at Thule to ensure not only the Defenders are provided adequate space to train, but to ensure the safety and well-being of the military, civilian and contractor personnel at the base.

“In just 30 days, we have a solid way ahead that will return readiness and lethality to the Thule Defenders,” Wilcox said. “This is a perfect example of the power behind the IMSC family, complete integrators and an enterprise solution!”