Osan News
Bits and Pieces of What's Going On

• 11/27/02 - Osan Snowfall:  Osan had its first measurable snowfall of the season on Nov 25.  For SrA Richard Quinones of the 51st Civil Engineer Squadron, a California native, it was his first snow.  He snapped some pictures that I thought you'd like to see.  I call them Phantom, High School 1 and High School 2.  Thanks Richard.
   
• 11/9/02 - Construction Update:  The Osan Shopping Mall groundbreaking is now scheduled for January 2003.  Completion is now estimated at late summer/early fall 2004.  The Visiting Quarters is in the process of being furnished (350 rooms take a lot of furniture) and the projected opening date is December 8, 2002.  The Multiple Operations Facility is partially occupied, but the 51st Fighter Wing headquarters remains in Building 938 for the time being.
   
• 9/17/02 - Construction Update:  The groundbreaking for the new Osan Shopping Mall has not yet taken place.  And the scheduled opening of the Multiple Operations Facility that will house the 51st Fighter Wing Headquarters has slipped from October to an as yet undetermined date.  (The Retiree Activities Office is no longer included for occupancy in the MOF, so it will remain with the Military Personnel Flight (MPF), Building 936 until further notice.)
   
• 7/05/02 - The Osan Shopping Mall construction schedule has slipped.   Originally scheduled for completion in early Fall 2003, the Mall is now scheduled for initial groundbreaking in August 2002 and completion is now scheduled for June 2004.   The construction contractor has had a good record of early completions, and the Mall could be completed as much as three months early.
   
• 6/02/02 - The newly-renovated Osan Fitness Center grand opening is 6/04/02.  This MiG Alley Flyer story describes the investment and new facilities.  This MiG Alley Flyer story describes the opening ceremony and the USAF program for renovating fitness centers worldwide, Osan's fitness center being the first.
  Also opening for business on the same date is the USA Federal Credit Union in its new location in Building 926, across from the temporary Mini-Mall.  With the move of the credit union, site preparation for the Osan Shopping Mall has gone into high gear.

• E-5's can now get a driver's license -- but they can't purchase or register a car on base.  With proper insurance, they can rent a car (for up to 30 days) or drive a car registered to someone else.  Here's how the MiG Alley Flyer describes the policy.

• The 51st Fighter Wing received an overall "Satisfactory" rating on the recent (15-19 Apr) Unit Compliance Inspection.  The 51st Services Squadron was rated Outstanding.

• Osan was a runner-up in the USAF Installation of Excellence competition and has been awarded $500,000.  The Osan community is being polled for ideas on how best to use the money to benefit the community as a whole.

• The Osan water system is being replaced (finally) at a cost of $20 million.  After years of patches and patches on patches, the entire water distribution system for Osan AB is being replaced.   (See the Current Construction page for some photos.)

• The Hill 180 gate was permanently closed in March 2002.  The new entrance for that area is the ROKAF gate near the new ROKAF Operations Command.  (See the History of Osan AB page, near the bottom, for a description and photos of the ROKAF area.)

• The 350-room Visiting Quarters construction will be completed in August 2002, and it will be turned over to Services for installation of equipment and furniture to prepare the facility for use.

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