| Ohio National Guard, Army Reserve join forces |
COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Ohio Army National Guard and Army Reserve broke ground July 1 on a joint Armed Forces Reserve Center on the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC) campus here. The new $29 million facility will encompass more than 150,000 square feet of training, administrative, logistical and equipment storage space. It is scheduled to house 900 Soldiers from six units—three each from the National Guard and Reserve, including headquarters elements from the Ohio Army National Guard’s 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and 16th Engineer Brigade. The Army Reserve will house its 412th Civil Affairs Battalion, 391st Military Police Battalion and 342nd Military Police Company at the new site. “This is about the taxpayers,” said Maj. Gen. Gregory L. Wayt, Ohio adjutant general. “This is about becoming more efficient and saving the taxpayers money by combining resources.” On hand to represent the U.S. Army Reserve was Col. John C. Hanley, deputy commander of the 88th Regional Support Command. Hanley has a special connection to one of the Ohio National Guard units with whom his troops will share space in the new building. “As I look at the patches, I recall that my father fought with the 37th Division during WWII during the liberation of Manila,” he said. “So it is a special treat for me to be here today.” Designed by Mann Architects of Akron, Ohio, and constructed by the Cleveland-based LDV Incorporated, the project was funded by the congressionally-authorized Defense Department Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) initiative. “This is a better way not only to save taxpayers money, but having jointness of Army, Reserve and National Guard will only strengthen DSCC through the BRAC process and our Soldiers deserve the state-of-the-art facility this will provide,” said U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Tiberi of Ohio’s 12th District. In addition to the Armed Forces Reserve Center, BRAC legislation provided funding for a Combined Support Maintenance Shop, Regional Training Institute and equipment warehouse. BRAC spending on all DSCC projects supporting the Ohio National Guard and Army Reserve represents more than $65 million. “The way to get it done is to combine resources so we can enhance training,” said U.S. Rep. Dave Hobson of Ohio’s 7th District. “We need to make the facilities the best we can for our Soldiers going to war.” - 30 - |
