Ellsworth AFB new facility gives solders more family time - KOTA Territory News

Ellsworth AFB new facility gives solders more family time

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One third of all active duty airmen at Ellsworth Air Force Base deploy, and usually they are gone for at least six months. Now the base has a new facility that will give airmen more time at home and less time sitting in a hanger.

Ellsworth Air Force Base unveiled a new deployment center Thursday. The 55,000 square foot building is similar to an airport, but with more amenities.

The center allows solders to be briefed, examined, and packed all in one building, saving them precious time.

Officer Rick Schroeder says it has cut deployment time in half, and in his experience every second counts. "I spent 22 years in the Air Force, retired Air Force, and I had a family ... and you want to spend as much time as you can with your family before you deploy because you're not going to see them again for six months, you know," said Schroeder. "So the quicker you can get through this process that's just more time you get to spend at home with your family."

The building cost almost $17 million and Schroeder says it's one-of-a-kind in the nation. It has a state-of-the-art control center, passenger holding areas with movies playing and a full kitchen, and office area. Construction of the deployment center started in March of last year and was finished May 15th.

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