REPI sustains mission through community partnerships

Col. Rob Riegel, 460th Space Wing vice commander, Kristin Thomasgard-Spence, Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program director, Mary Jane Brady, 460th Civil Engineer Squadron installation community planner, Lynne Neuman, Air Force Civil Engineer Center and Jeannette Russo, 460th CES, stand together with a folded flag Oct. 26, 2017, on Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. The group was participating in a tour of the base for REPI, a program that protects the military’s mission by preventing, removing and mitigating restrictions to military installations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jake Deatherage/Released)

REPI sustains mission through community partnerships

Participants in the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program tour take a photo in front of an F-16 Fighting Falcon Oct. 26, 2017, on Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. The REPI program protects the military’s mission by preventing, removing and mitigating restrictions to military installations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jake Deatherage/Released)

REPI sustains mission through community partnerships

Col. Rob Riegel, 460th Space Wing vice commander, gives the opening remarks before the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program tour Oct. 26, 2017, on Buckley Air Force Base, Colo. The REPI program protects the military’s mission by preventing, removing and mitigating restrictions to military installations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jake Deatherage/Released)

REPI sustains mission through community partnerships

Published Oct. 31, 2017
By Airman 1st Class Jake Deatherage

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Starting in the late 1990s, the Department of Defense became increasingly concerned about encroachment of military installations.

This eventually led to the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration program, which links conservation, communities, and national defense.

The REPI program protects military installations like Buckley Air Force Base, Colo., by preventing, removing and mitigating restrictions to military training, testing, and operations through partnerships with several outside entities.

“This is one of the fastest developing regions in the country, and there’s a lot of development pressure in this area, particularly in the area surrounding Buckley.” said Mary Jane Brady, 460th Civil Engineer Squadron installation community planner.

Brady, the REPI representative for Buckley AFB, led a tour of the base Oct. 26th, explaining the accomplishments and future plans through the REPI program.

REPI partnerships with the local community serve as an innovative way to address land use and resource challenges that threaten military readiness. This prevents further development from affecting operations while providing additional environmental, economic, and quality of life benefits to neighbors, communities and the DoD alike.

“Buckley has an incredibly effective and inclusive REPI program,” said Col. Rob Riegel, 460th Space Wing vice commander. “Our local, state and national partnerships allow us to focus our REPI efforts on enhancing vital mission and readiness capabilities for the base, and they provide enhanced use of public lands for the local community.”

The REPI program helps achieve the partnership’s goals of protecting the base’s missions and providing recreational opportunities, wildlife corridors and providing enhanced use of public lands for the local community.

“The REPI program is an effort for mission and readiness sustainment,” said Brady. “The efforts we’re making with the REPI project are going to allow us to sustain, continue and perhaps even receive other mission opportunities.”