New Keesler gate construction complete

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Garrett Jones, 81st Security Forces Squadron base defense operations center controller, stands guard during the Division Street Gate Ribbon Cutting Ceremony inside the Commercial Vehicle Inspection Building at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, May 26, 2022. After approximately two years of construction, Keesler's new main gate marks the completion of a multi-sourced and multi-funded project which will enhance force protection and anti-terrorism measures. Keesler partnered with the city of Biloxi, along with state and federal planners, to align the primary entrance at Division Street. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Airmen prepare sand bags for hurricane season

U.S. Air Force Airman Basic Jerimiah Augustine, 338th Training Squadron student, stacks sand bags in preparation for the 2022 hurricane season at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, June 27, 2022. Over 40 Airmen from the 338th TRS assisted the 81st Civil Engineer Squadron with filling more than 2500 sand bags. Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

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Kimberly Alvarez, 81st Contracting Squadron commodities section chief, speaks to attendees of the 81st CONS roadshow at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, April 20, 2022. Members of the 81st CONS created the roadshow to improve processes and address an information gap between their staff and Keesler’s various units. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Davis)

338th TRS seizes their window of opportunity

U.S. Air Force Airmen 1st Class Jared Dorosz and Matthew Mason, 338th Training Squadron Radio Frequency Transmission Systems students, practice with radio equipment at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, Sept. 6, 2022. The 338th TRS specializes in two pipeline courses, RF Transmissions Systems and Network Operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elizabeth Davis)

335th TRS hosts joint weather training

U.S. Air Force Airman Gabriel Hoffman, 335th Training Squadron student, participates in a virtual reality training session during the weather initial skills course inside of the Joint Weather Training Facility at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, July 21, 2022. The weather apprentice course, which graduated 650 students this past year, takes 151 academic days to complete. Approximately 7,400 students go through the 335th TRS's 13 Air Force Specialty Codes each year. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kemberly Groue)

Making cents: Keesler doubles funds in FY 22

Published Sept. 30, 2022
By Senior Airman Kimberly L. Mueller
81st Training Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --

Keesler set a new record in fiscal year 2022 by effectively doubling procured resources for wing improvement, totaling approximately $20 million for unfunded requests.

The 81st Comptroller Squadron played a vital role during this process from the first day of the fiscal year, Oct, 1, 2021, by educating the base on the importance of starting processes early and working with the appropriate amount of risk.

“We can attribute a lot of our end-of-year success to the 81st Civil Engineer Squadron for being visionaries with their projects, and the 81st Contracting Squadron for continuously being ready to execute and award contracts,” said Maj. Christopher O’Dell, 81st CPTS commander. “We really saw the fruits of our labor come forth in the last two months of the fiscal year as we were greatly rewarded for a year’s worth of hard work.”

Using the increased backing, the 81st CONS was able to fund over 550 project actions, such as the Base Operations Support (BOS) Service Contract. Keesler’s largest service contract, BOS, provides all civil engineer functions, supply functions, weather services and more.

Some notable uses of the contract include storm recovery efforts, renovations and heating, ventilation and air conditioning repairs.

“The funds Keesler received goes a long way, delivering huge wins for our four priorities of people, installation, community and mission,” said O’Dell. “We revamped the technology for students and instructors in the 81st Training Group, bringing in new laptops, tablets and monitors, to name a few.”

The training group will also see state-of-the-art interactive courseware including 3D models, animations, interactive video and other animations, as defined in the contract, for Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Aircraft Armament Systems and other Air Force Specialty Code students.

“We increased student safety through the replacement of outdated systems in the 81st TRG dormitories and the Levitow Training Support Facility,” said Kimberley Alvarez, 81st CONS commodities section chief. “This project, Base Camera project, has been in the works for 2-3 years.”

In addition to student safety, the project also upgrades security force’s visibility of the base by 700 percent and provides coverage for the airfield and the capability to record and store license plate information with room for future add-ons.

“Over the next few months, we will continue to put in the time and effort with each unit to outline the budget playbook needed to posture for yet another successful fiscal year, funding our training mission, and delivering of focused, driven warriors,” said O’Dell.