MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The Defense Policy Review Initiative Integrated Program Management Office is slated to begin demolition of Building 1395, Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242’s former sleeping quarters. The demolition is part of a series of construction projects, which started Nov. 12 on the station’s north side and is slated to continue over the next several months.
“DPRI is rearranging the facilities to make room for relocations associated with DPRI, shifting around the Marine Corps’ structures,” said Myke Payne, DPRI IPMO interdisciplinary engineer.
Some of these shifts, which are still slated to take place, will come with the scheduled transformation of the station within the coming years. The creation of a commercial airport right outside the northern perimeter of the station within the year, will impact the surrounding areas.
The construcation of Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport will alleviate some hassles caused to Iwakuni and station residents. These residents must currently travel to Hiroshima and Fukuoka for flights. With the new airport residents will cut down on travel time and prices.
The proximity of the airport’s construction and placement to the station necessitated the need for the barracks to accommodate the airport space and reduce the traffic near the area.
“The traffic pattern near those (barracks) will be shifting,” said Payne. “It’s made things a little tricky.”
The planning and realization of the station’s revamp was not something which sprang up over night, but took meticulous planning on the part of DPRI.
“This program has been in the works for years, as early as 2006 on some of the planning stages for this,” said Payne. The reduced traffic is also in place to ensure other various construction projects will not be hindered.
The reduced traffic flow and limited space associated with the construction was originally seen as being a hindrance for Marines on the station’s north side.
“There’s more of a hassle because we can’t use some of the roads near the chow hall anymore, but most people over here walk anyway,” said Cpl. Chad R. Armstrong, VMFA(AW)-242 aviation ordnanceman. “With the old barracks gone, we really don’t need those roads anymore.”
The new barracks, building 1438A and 1430F, are a welcome sight for Marines who lived in the older barracks, as the rooms have been upgraded with a kitchen and separate sleeping areas.
“I like these barracks better than the old ones,” said Armstrong. “We moved from a barracks into an apartment. After working 16, 17 hour days, we get to go home and actually call it home and not just a wall closet with a rack.”
This perception of the barracks as a home away from home also has the impact of boosting the overall feel of the station.
“It’s definitely beneficial for troop morale,” said Lance Cpl. Vincent F. Esser, a VMFA(AW)-242 aviation ordnanceman. “Before, we lived in barracks that have been here for a long time, but now it’s nice to go to barracks that are easier to keep clean.”
The new layout of the rooms allows Marines to regain a sense of privacy and acquire more sleep for the next work day.
“We have separate rooms now,” said Esser. “Before, if we had a roommate who was on nights and we were on days, we’d wake each other up whenever one of us was going to work. Now these rooms give us a little bit more privacy and definitely benefits morale.”
A total of ten barracks, along with parking structures for residents and a new enlisted club, are slated to be built. Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 is also scheduled to live in building 1430F. It has not been determined what squadrons will occupy the other eight barracks.