Commander hosts Town Hall meeting

Published Feb. 20, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Candy Knight
51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- Housing topics and projected construction projects were top items discussed during a Town Hall meeting hosted by the 51st Fighter Wing commander Feb. 15 at the base theater.

Col. Jon Norman spent more than an hour giving an in-depth view of the current construction projects and what lies in store for the Osan community to a crowd of more than 100 Osan community members.

Following the briefing, the colonel fielded a myriad of questions from the audience, many dealing with the opening of Osan's newest family housing units in the near future.

"I think it's important for you to understand what is changing on this base and that there are lot of people working hard behind the scenes to take care of you," the colonel said. "I also what you to understand how we are changing this base around to make it a more efficient use of the land we have."

One of the most efficient uses of land according to the colonel, are the two new family housing towers, Hallasan and Jirisan.

"Construction is about 98 to 99 percent completed and we expect to do the final walk-through by the end of February," he said. "We're going to inspect and ensure that the quality is premier. We can't afford for it not to be perfect."

The colonel said the earliest he can move families in is by the middle of March.

Members who are eligible to move into the new three- and four-bedroom housing units will receive letters from the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron's Housing Flight.

However, Colonel Norman made it clear that he, the installation commander, and not the housing flight, will determine who moves into the new towers.

During the meeting, Colonel Norman also discussed major construction projects such as the new community center, a new middle school, additions to the high school and the new runway.

"Osan is the major aerial port for Korea," he said. "We've got to have a new runway. It's our number one engineering and construction project, because if there's not a runway here, there's not a mission."

Throughout the meeting, he thanked the families and volunteers for their continuous contributions to the base.

"Our families do more volunteering than bases with 50 times as many people," he said. "I can't begin to than you enough. You help make our community successful."

However, he reminded families living on Osan is a privilege, not a right.

"You are the rare exception," he said. "Be very appreciative because 90 percent of the military members here are without their families."

Editor's note: Articles focusing on the new housing towers' eligibility requirements will be published at a later time.