Page 57 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2022

The Coast is home to Air National Guard’s Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center. It trains
in the areas of
assisting ground
force commanders
as well as planning
and coordinating close air
operations. It also houses the 255th Air Control Squadron and the 209th Special Operations Civil Engineering Squadron.
The center’s civil engineering mission
is to help build and maintain the infrastructure and buildings on bases across the world. The CRTC Fire Department assists Harrison County Fire Services on many calls.
Keesler Air Force
Base in Biloxi is
named for 2d Lt.
Samuel Keesler
Jr., a native of
Mississippi who
was killed in combat
during WWI. It first
opened its gates in 1941 during the beginning of WWII.
The 81St Training Wing replaced the Keesler Work Center in 1993. The 81st Training Wing is host to the 2nd Air Force, the 403rd Wing of the U.S. Air Force Reserves. Keesler is an integral part of South Mississippi. In fact, according to its website, keesler. af.mil, the air base is the single largest employer in Coastal Mississippi.
The home of the Seabees,
the Gulfport base opened in June
1942 during WWII as an Advance Base
Depot. In 1952, it was established as a U.S. Naval
Construction Battalion Center. The base, like many institutions in South Mississippi, was affected
by Hurricane Katrina in 2015. According to the base’s website, cnic. navy.mil, it spent about $450 million on infrastructure and new buildings. Some of the projects included a Naval Construction Training Center Complex.
This year, the Seabees base celebrate 80 years of service.
The Gulfport Coast Guard Station helps
to protect Gulfport
Harbor and the Port of Gulfport.
It also assists local law enforcement
and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources with search and rescue missions. The Coast Guard also helps to enforce the laws on the water, including fishing requirements and boating safety. It is part of the 8th Coast Guard District out of
New Orleans. The 8th Coast Guard Distract represents 26 states including the Gulf coastline from Mexico to Florida.
Air Force Thunderbirds rally before Thunder Over the Sound.
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Keesler Air Force Base Air National Guard
Gulfport Coast Naval Construction Guard Station Battalion Center Gulfport