TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The 181st Intelligence Wing has announced the construction of a $13 million small arms qualification range at Hulman Field Air National Guard Base in Terre Haute.
The new facility will provide an efficient and accessible option for qualifications. It will include 10 lanes that can accommodate larger groups and will allow flexibility for training without limitations of off-base travel and scheduling.
“It increases our warfighter readiness while reducing a potential burden on our local partners,”
said Col. Christopher Brownell, commander of the 181st Mission Support Group. “The new range eliminates the logistical challenges of traveling to state and local partner facilities, streamlining training and deployment requirements.”
The National Guard said having an on-base range has been a priority for nearly a decade, and this project marks a significant milestone for the nearly 900 Airmen stationed at the base.
This is a huge win for the Racers,” said Col. Charles Goad, commander of the 181st Intelligence Wing. “Having a range on base will allow us to organically qualify not only our Security Forces, Civil Engineers and future Contingency Response members, but anyone deploying overseas—rapidly and efficiently. This investment ensures the operational readiness of our service members and reinforces our commitment to national defense objectives.”
Upon completion, the National Guard said, the range will be the first purpose-built facility at Hulman Field Air National Guard Base since 1997.
