Pennsylvania Guardians - Summer 2010

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‘Facilitating’ a historic era of construction Commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard, Maj. Gen. Jessica Wright, and others cut the ribbon at the Chambersburg Readiness Center March 11. Although many of the centers were complete before then, Chambersburg was the first to celebrate its opening after the return of the 56th Stryker Brigade from its deployment to Iraq. Photo: Sgt. Matt Jones By Lt. Col. Chris Cleaver If the Pennsylvania National Guard sold shares in the stock market, it would definitely be a great buy for wise investors. The state is witnessing a construction boom unparalleled in its history. Easily outpacing all other state Guards, there are 45 completed or ongoing military construction projects across the commonwealth – a $362 million investment. The program leading the construction bonanza is the 56th Stryker Brigade. From near the Ohio border to the shores of the Delaware River, new readiness centers and refurbished armories dot the landscape. “There is no state in the nation that comes close to Pennsylvania’s construction program,” said Doug Patterson, facilities management engineer, National Guard Bureau. He added, “It is the Stryker Brigade that makes the big difference.” Stryker fielding also made an indelible mark on Fort Indiantown Gap. Home to the Joint Forces Headquarters, “the Gap” is the primary training site for Stryker and other Keystone State units. Today, new ranges, facilities and programs abound on the ground and in the air‘, some directly the result of Stryker, and others the product of providing high-quality training. Overhead this central Pennsylvania facility, Shadow unmanned aerial vehicles 26 / GUARDIANS / Summer 2010 The first phase of this impressive 50-acre facility at Fort Indiantown Gap was finished in March 2008. The Combined Arms Collective Training Facility consists of 11 concrete buildings that simulate an Iraqi village. Complete with a church, police station, gas station and dormitory, military personnel train to engage the enemy under numerous scenarios and all under the watchful eye of 80 cameras. Phase two is a $14 million addition that will enhance the training environment to include facilities and structures that units would likely encounter in Afghanistan. Construction for phase two is set to begin in 2012. Photo: Robert Smith
share the sky with the Army’s latest helicopter, the Lakota, along with Black Hawks, Chinooks and Apache helicopters. The Gap is home to the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, which was awarded the entire Lakota training program. This will eventually lead to some 18 light utility helicopters stationed here. On the ground, Soldiers train on stateof-the-art ranges, including sniper field fire range, multi-purpose machine gun and grenade ranges, live-fire shoot house, and battalion training complex, among UPGRADING FROM ARMORIES TO READINESS CENTERS 2010 Ribbon Cuttings Cuttings and Groundbreakings Groundbreakings • Bradford Readiness Center • Butler Readiness Center • Carlisle Readiness Center and Field Maintenance Shop • Chambersburg Readiness Center • Coatesville Readiness Center • Danville Readiness Center • Easton Readiness Center and Field Maintenance Shop • Elizabethtown Readiness Center and Field Maintenance Shop • Graterford Field Maintenance Shop • Hanover Readiness Center • Hazelton Readiness Center • Hollidaysburg Readiness Center • Huntingdon Readiness Center • Kutztown Readiness Center • Lebanon Readiness Center • Lewistown Readiness Center • Punxsutawney Readiness Center • Reading Readiness Center • Scranton Readiness Center • Southampton Readiness Center and Field Maintenance Shop • South Mountain Readiness Center • Waynesburg Readiness Center • Willow Grove Readiness Center others. During the last several years more than $150 million was allocated to new programs – easily the largest investment in the Gap since World War II. “It took a tremendous team effort to make all these facilities and ranges a reality,” said Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright, Pennsylvania National Guard commander. “These projects make Fort Indiantown Gap and our facilities across the commonwealth viable now and vital for future roles and missions.” While it is easy to bask in the glow of the numerous ribbon-cutting ceremonies planned for the next several months, behind the scenes engineers, facility specialists, construction managers, planners, contractors, lawyers and legislative liaison made it all happen. “These projects have greatly enhanced our capabilities on a number of fronts,” said Lt. Col. John Buffington, Pennsylvania National Guard’s construction and facilities management officer. “Future generations will look back on this period and see that it was by far the most significant construction period in our entire history.” ❖ Summer 2010 / GUARDIANS / 27
Page 3: Governor Edward G. Rendell Governor
Page 6 and 7: Divisions unite for National Guard
Page 8 and 9: By Sgt. Tom Bourke Piloting the 35,
Page 10 and 11: Fog envelops the obstacle course at
Page 13: Transmission Accomplished: 193rd co
Page 17 and 18: By Staff Sgt. Ivyann Castillo and C
Page 19 and 20: The Workingmen’s Benevolent Assoc
Page 21 and 22: troops in the history of the Pennsy
Page 24 and 25: By Pfc. Zane Craig “One Soldier l
Page 27: Story and photo courtesy of the Pen
Page 31: The Pennsylvania National Guard cel
Page 34: CURATOR’S CORNER By Charles Oelli

Pennsylvania Guardians - Summer 2010

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