holloman air force base gets funding for big storage project

The Holloman Air Force Base, 6 miles southwest of Alamogordo, is expected to see the construction of a $20 million container storage facility for its Basic Expeditionary Airfield Resources program.

The BEAR program is designed to deploy assets anywhere in the world in support of both combat and humanitarian missions.

The $20 million award for the construction of what is called the Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications War Reserve Material Storage and Shipment facility was announced by the U.S. Air Force.

That investment, said New Mexico Senator Martin Heinrich in a statement, “is a reflection of the importance of the BASE base mission, and the exceptional training environments and expertise New Mexico has to offer.”

Upon construction, the new facility at the 60,000-acre air force base will, among other functions, house fuel support equipment.

The $20 million award comes in the wake of a vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee approving $80 million for the construction of a Formal Training Unit that will house three MQ-9 Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft attack squadrons, as well as offices, classrooms, and training simulators, also at the Holloman Air Force Base.

By Garry Boulard