LAUREL COUNTY, Ky. — The Kentucky National Guard Joint Readiness Center has completed its $13 million facility beside the London-Corbin Airport, and will serve as the foothold to the eastern U.S. during national emergencies.  The joint base will serve not only the Kentucky National Guard but also law enforcement and other federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

In cases of national emergencies, such as a major flood, earthquake, forest fire, ice and snow storms, the 70,000 square foot center is ready to serve with two generators to sustain power, six hangars and a 6,100 x 150 foot runway big enough to handle a C-130 cargo plane.

“We can take about any airplane that wants to come in here,” said Larry E. Corum, airport manager for the London-Corbin Airport.

Kentucky National Guard Executive Officer Terry Corder said prior to 9-11, the center wasn’t in the plans, but now, the Guard’s mission has expanded.

“Before, we just had a state mission. Now, we’re part of the ‘big team’ so to speak,” Corder said.

Although the center is an expansion of the guard’s presence in the eastern U.S., on the congressional level, the U.S. Department of Defense is currently undergoing a large budget cut for the next 10 years.

“Everybody is trying to redefine what our role and mission is.  The Department of Defense is getting smaller and it will affect us to some degree,” Corder said.

On a local level, guard personnel at the joint readiness center who participated in school drug education programs will shift from the classroom settings to becoming more actively involved in drug abatement coalitions.  About 30 to 100 guardsmen work at the center year round, with the summer months proving to be the busiest.  Local and federal law enforcement work together during marijuana growing season to counter drug operations — stimulating the local economy along the way.  

Corum gives credit to the national guard for London-Corbin Airport’s self-sustaining status because of their close proximity and relationship.   The center is based within an ideal location near Interstate 75, considerable aerial visibility, less air traffic, a 200-foot ceiling for their instrument land system (ILS), and government contract fuel readily available from Shell Aviation in Knoxville, Tenn.

“The federal partners we have here plays a big part,” Corder said.

“We have access, you can get anything in and out by road, in and out by air,” Corum said.

In two months’ time, the guard’s hangar will receive more aircraft to be kept year-round, including two OH-58 Kiowa helicopters and possibly a Black Hawk helicopter.  In 18 months, the center will receive six new military helicopters to base.  In the meantime, the U.S. Forest Service houses their Southern Area Incident Support Cache on the center’s 16 acres to readily assist any forest fire event in the U.S.



mmccrarey@sentinel-echo.com