The 10,000 square foot medical unit on the Air National Guard Base is made up of 42 individuals and offers a variety of services to those on base. In addition to providing flight and military physicals for the members of the 186th Air Refueling Wing, the facility has rooms for eye, dental and hearing exams. But the unit doesn't do all of its work at Key Field.

"The mission of this unit is not only a military mission, it is also with national disasters such as Katrina. This medical facility went down and set up a facility and that's for national disasters. So we have that as one of our biggest programs and this is what this medical facility is about," said Col. Robert Justus - Commander, Medical Unit.

Colonel Justus believes that the facility may be one of, if not the, best units in the country. It is a welcome upgrade from the trailers that the unit has been operating out of since Katrina.

"It's a great improvement, I can assure you of that. A lot more room to work in. A lot more modern equipment and just an area to do it in. We've been real cramped for about the last three years. Now it's time we can spread out and accomplish what we need to do," said Col. Franklin Chalk - Commander, 186th ARW.

The $4 million facility was funded through grants received following Hurricane Katrina. The unit currently has nurses, emergency medical technicians and three physicians, but is funded for four.

"This is a great day to see this unit recognized and appreciated by Congress and the military and certainly great wishes from state headquarters," said Brig. Gen. Erik Hearon - Commander, Mississippi Air National Guard.