Col. Mark Shade, Fort Jackson's deputy commander, and Col. James Ellerson Jr., garrison commander cut the ribbon to officially open the post's new headquarters building during a ceremony Friday. The building, located on Jackson Boulevard, is a few blocks down from the World War II-era the command used to call home.
The post headquarters is named after Maj. Gen. George L. Mabry Jr., who earned the Medal of Honor in World War II. The building was initially opened in June 1995, and once housed the Fort Jackson non-commissioned officer academy.
"After more than 75 years of residing in the previous headquarters down the street, it was time to move from a facility that, though it was full of character and near to hearts of many … was simply not efficient and was deteriorating," said Shade, moments before cutting the ribbon with Ellerson.
Mabry was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during an attack on Nov. 20, 1944, in the Hurtgen Forest in Germany.
The ribbon cutting signaled an end to the post's efforts to move most of the command and control functions into one building. While the different sections moved into the 41,000 square foot building in December, the planning to move had taken years.
After a "lot of work by a lot of people" the order to move buildings was published Nov. 14, 2014.
"Today we celebrate this much more modern facility which enables more operational efficiency," Shade said.
In December, Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Kassza, with the post's G-3 Current Operations section, marveled at how easier the building makes his job. Instead of traveling around to coordinate taskings he is now able to "just walk down the hall and knock on their door."
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