June 19, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SUBJECT: Addition of National Guard units in the Greenville area

GREENVILLE, S.C.– Major General Stanhope S. Spears, the Adjutant General of South Carolina and the South Carolina National Guard, in concert with the Donaldson Center, announce the addition of an Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF) which will be located at the Donaldson Center Industrial Airpark.This $44 million dollar project is a new facility which will house three South Carolina National Guard aviation units, 10 Army National Guard rotary wing aircraft (six CH-47 Chinooks and 4 UH-72 Lakota Light Utility Helicopters), 70 full-time personnel and 145 additional part-time National Guard Soldiers.

The location for the new AASF was determined by many factors to include the SCARNG’s state mission.Due to tropical storm tracking and the probability of hurricane activity affecting the coast of South Carolina it was determined aircraft might not be safe or ready for mobilization in the event of high speed winds. The additional facility will give S.C. National Guard aviation the ability to spread out and have better coverage across the state to include a more rapid response when called to state emergencies.

In addition to environmental factors, the SCARNG recruits statewide and beyond and the demographics of the upstate support a new facility in this region of the state. Force structure and longevity were also important drivers in the decision to locate the facility in the upstate.

This new endeavor for the South Carolina National Guard is not one sided. The Greenville area will benefit from this addition as well. The projected economic impact for the new AASF for the Greenville area is approximately $161 million dollars.This breaks down into approximately $44 million dollars in construction, approximately $99 million dollars in equipment, over $3 million dollars in salaries and other factors which will be added back into Greenville’s economy.“This is a winning situation for everyone involved,” said Gen. Spears.“It gives the S.C. National Guard aviation flexibility for state missions and training as well as being a huge benefit for the citizens of Greenville and the surrounding areas.”

Attached are information sheets about the CH-47 Chinook helicopters and the UH-72 Lakota Light Utility Helicopter.

For additional information on this advisory or on the South Carolina National Guard please contact the South Carolina National Guard Public Affairs Office:

Colonel Pete Brooks (803) 806-4327

CW3 Tripp Hutto (803) 806-4241

MAJ Scott Bell (803) 667-1013

MAJ Jim StClair (803) 806-4321

Staff Sergeant Joe Cashion (803) 806-2697
 

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