A new 17,000 SF building at Fort Indiantown Gap has replaced several World War II-era structures, providing a new, modern multi-purpose training facility for the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.
The building was dedicated at a March 10 ceremony and is already in use.
“The PA Air National Guard training facility is 17,000 square foot building designed to be a combined dining facility with the seating area able to be split into different size classrooms,” said Master Sargent Matt Schwartz, a public affairs specialist with the 193rd Special Operations Wing, the parent unit of the Air National Guard training facility.
“It is the headquarters building for the 193rd Regional Support Group as well as the PA Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Task Force’s specialized training area with hands-on lab environments.”
Schwartz said that the 193rd Special Operations Medical Group also has space in the building to conduct clinical work such as immunizations, lab draws, and hearing tests to ensure medical requirements for the 600+ Airmen of the 193rd Regional Support Group.
Construction on the facility began in January 2021 and was completed earlier this year at a cost of $7.6 million, coming in under the original $8 million budget.
“Fort Indiantown Gap was the busiest National Guard training center in the country last year, and it is among the busiest year in and year out,” said Brad Rhen, deputy public affairs officer for the Pennsylvania National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap.
“We have a wide variety of facilities, schools, simulators and ranges, and this new Air Guard facility is yet another asset that helps make Fort Indiantown Gap one of the premier training sites in the National Guard.”
Read More: Once again, The Gap is the nation’s largest National Guard training center by training volume
Last year, Fort Indiantown Gap opened a new 63,000 SF training support center serving the Pennsylvania National Guard. That building tripled the square footage provided by the six World War II-era wood buildings which occupied the space previously.
Fort Indiantown Gap covers 33 square miles, most of which are in Lebanon County. Construction is currently underway on two access control points and a visitors center which will improve security of the active military base.
Read More: Fort Indiantown Gap begins work on new main gate and visitors center
The access control points are not expected to impair public access to sites on base grounds such as Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Memorial Lake State Park, and Marquette Lake.
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Read More: [Photo Story] A walk through Memorial Lake State Park
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