NJNG breaks ground on new facility

Published March 14, 2013
By Staff Sgt. Wayne Woolley
444th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- A ceremonial ground breaking was held for a 143,000 square-foot aviation facility March 8, 2013, here.

The new facility will house, maintain and dispatch New Jersey's fleet of UH-60s from a central location and replace two smaller and outdated flight centers in west Trenton and here.

"This is going to be a first-class flight facility for first-class Soldiers," said Air Force Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff, National Guard and Adjutant General of New Jersey commander. "We will finally have the caliber of building that matches the caliber of Soldiers who comprise New Jersey Army Guard aviation."

The new facility is scheduled to be completed October 2014 and will feature an energy efficient design and 10 maintenance bays. The $43 million facility will be home to 60 full-time and 200 traditional drilling guardsmen of 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation Regiment, which flies the state's UH-60s as well as the smaller OH-58 Kiowa Warrior.

Leadership from the 150th Aviation Regiment were joined by Air Force Col. John Wood, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst commander, and Reps. Jon Runyan (R-3rd Dist) and Chris Smith (R-4th Dist) for the ceremonial groundbreaking.

Smith noted that the vision of a consolidated aviation facility for New Jersey Army aviation dates back nearly 20 years.

Smith's brother, Mike Smith, a retired Army National Guard colonel, was among the Army aviation commanders who saw a need for one aviation facility.

Smith credited the National Guard leadership for convincing the Department of Defense and Congress of the need for the facility.

"Colocation and consolidation will ensure that the vital security and humanitarian missions of the New Jersey Guard continue to be performed with world-class excellence," Smith said. "Today, the work begins on the Army Aviation Support Facility resulting in new construction jobs for a struggling local economy and, when completed, a substantially better place for Army Guard Aviation to perform its critical missions."

Runyan said the facility would be used by Soldiers who have demonstrated their value.

"The men and women of the 1st Btn.150th Aviation Reg. have proven their capabilities and commitment to service both at home and abroad," said Runyan.

New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers have flown their fleet of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters on combat missions in Iraq and in support of humanitarian relief operations in Panama and Kosovo. The Soldiers have flown dignitaries from Vice President Joe Biden to the federal agents who investigated the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Soldiers have battled forest fires and were the first aircraft launched for search and rescue operations following hurricanes Floyd, Irene and Sandy.