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Senior Airman Rodney Montgomery, a heating ventilation and air conditioning apprentice, trims wood July 27, 2017, at a training facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Members of the 126th Civil Engineer Squadron are visiting the base to remod...
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Staff Sgt. Jeremy Renth cuts wood July 27, 2017 at a U.S. Army training facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Members of the 126th Civil Engineer Squadron, assigned to the Illinois Air National Guard, are deployed to the base to assist with ...
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Staff Sgt. Joseph Eschbach, a structures technician, applies adhesive glue to a wall July 25, 2017, at a training facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Members of 126th Civil Engineer Squadron are assisting the Pennsylvania National Guard re...
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Master Sgt. Steven Sabatino, an engineer flight supervisor, takes geographic information system surveys July 25, 2017, at the Regional Equipment Operations Training Site in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. The Illinois Air National Guardsman from S...
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Staff Sgt. Ryan Ray, a heavy equipment operator, cuts drywall July 26, 2017 at a U.S. Army training facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. The 126th Civil Engineer Squadron, assigned to the Illinois Air National Guard, is deployed to the base...
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Chief Master Sgt. John Hedeman, a civil engineer manager, applies wood filler to a wooden post July 26, 2017, at a U.S. Army training facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. The 126th Civil Engineer Squadron, part of the Illinois Air National ...
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Senior Airman Rodney Montgomery, a heating ventilation and air conditioning apprentice, cuts insulation July 25, 2017, at a U.S. Army training facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Members of the Illinois Air National Guard, from Scott Air F...
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Senior Airman John Cape, a heating ventilation and air conditioning technician, applies joint compound to drywall July 23, 2017, at a training U.S. Army facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. Members of the Illinois Air National Guard, from S...
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Members of the 126th Civil Engineer Squadron review electrical plans July 23, 2017, at a U.S. Army training facility in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. The Illinois Air National Guardsmen, from Scott Air Force Base, are deployed for training on th...
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FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - The history of Fort Indiantown Gap extends back to 1755 when colonial settlers established fortification of the area during the French and Indian War. Almost two centuries later, the fort was developed into a National Guard training site at the recommendation of Gen. Edward Martin.
Now operated by members of the Pennsylvania National Guard, it is the busiest National Guard training center in the nation.
World War II reinforced the importance of the training site, which prompted the federal government to invest in a major construction project. By the end of 1941, more than 1,400 buildings were constructed on the site. One of those building was designated as "Building 11-11." During that time, Building 11-11 was used as a storage warehouse.
Today, Building 11-11 is being renovated to serve as a training facility for range safety and coordination briefings.
The 126th Civil Engineer Squadron, an Illinois Air National Guard unit assigned to Scott Air Force Base, arrived at the old warehouse July 22 and is the final civil engineer squadron to assist with the project.
"There were three rotations of Air National Guard Units involved in this project," said Senior Master Sgt. Roger Stine, the site project manager. "The 188 CES from Fort Smith, Arkansas, was the first unit, and the 190 CES from Topeka, Kansas, was the second unit to work on the project."
The rotation of Air National Guard members helped the $1.1 million project move closer to completion.
"The reservation maintenance personnel couldn't begin work on the project," said Stine. "It would have been years before they would be able to renovate the facility. The Air National Guard will complete the majority of the work and leave only a minimal amount of work to complete the project."
Having the extra hands certainly benefits the reservation maintenance personnel, however, the Air National Guard members involved in the project received a benefit as well.
"This is an excellent site to train our traditional craftsmen in civil engineering," said Stine. "There are a variety of tasks such as heating ventilation, air conditioning, an immense amount of structures work, plumbing and electrical work. The Army has worked very well with us and we've had ample supplies to get the job done."
As the project nears completion, Building 11-11's future tenant prepares to conduct its training more efficiently.
"Soon, range operations will have a dedicated training space," said Lt. Col. Daneen Hutton, FTIG director of public works. "Previously, their classes were hosted at any space that was available. The Air National Guardsmen are doing phenomenal work. I'm extremely impressed by their level of workmanship."
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