81st Readiness Division Opens New ECS

By Sgt. 1st Class Tom WadeJune 16, 2026

81st Readiness Division Opens New ECS
1 / 5 Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve Command, talks with Brig. Gen. Vivek Kshetrapal, Deputy Commanding General (Operations) for the 81st Readiness Division, during the Equipment Concentration Site (ECS) ribbon cutting ceremony June 16, 2026 at Camp Shelby, Miss. These opening ceremonies marks the grand debut of a vital logistical hub whose storage facilities house critical rolling stock, weaponry and gear. (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Tom Wade) View original
81st Readiness Division Opens New ECS
2 / 5 Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve Command, gives official remarks during the Equipment Concentration Site (ECS) ribbon cutting ceremony June 16, 2026 at Camp Shelby, Miss. These opening ceremonies marks the grand debut of a vital logistical hub whose storage facilities house critical rolling stock, weaponry and gear. (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Tom Wade) View original
81st Readiness Division Opens New ECS
3 / 5 Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve Command (center) welcomes Mississippi State officials and other dignitaries during the Equipment Concentration Site (ECS) ribbon cutting ceremony June 16, 2026 at Camp Shelby, Miss. These opening ceremonies marks the grand debut of a vital logistical hub whose storage facilities house critical rolling stock, weaponry and gear. (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Tom Wade) View original
81st Readiness Division Opens New ECS
4 / 5 Mississippi State Senator Dr. Johnny DuPree, Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie Hubbard, 81st Readiness Division and Army Reserve Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Betty, U.S. Army Reserve Command, pose for a picture during the equipment concentration site (ECS) ribbon cutting ceremony June 16, 2026. These opening ceremonies marks the grand debut of a vital logistal hub whose storage facilities house critical rolling stock, weaponry and gear. (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Tom Wade) View original
81st Readiness Division Opens New ECS
5 / 5 Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, (3rd left) Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve Command, initiates cutting the ribbon during the Equipment Concentration Site (ECS) ribbon cutting ceremony June 16, 2026 at Camp Shelby, Miss. These opening ceremonies marks the grand debut of a vital logistical hub whose storage facilities house critical rolling stock, weaponry and gear. (Photo Credit: Sgt. 1st Class Tom Wade) View original

CAMP SHELBY, Missi.- The U.S. Army Reserve 81st Readiness Division, in coordination

with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new

Equipment Concentration Site (ECS) June 16, 2026 at Camp Shelby, Miss.

This $24 million dollar project, which was initiated back in 2020, consolidates three

geographically dispersed maintenance sites in Mississippi - the Gulfport ECS, the Area

Support Maintenance Activity in Laurel, and the Branch Maintenance Activity in

Brookhaven - into a single, modernized hub.

“This facility will serve as a vital hub, housing equipment that units are unable to

maintain or store at their local Army Reserve Centers”, said Brig. Gen. Vivek

Kshetrapal, Deputy Commanding General (Operations), 81st Readiness Division.

“Between the current MEP footprint and potential future expansions, this site has the

capacity to secure more than 2,000 pieces of rolling stock. Furthermore, with all 31

direct labor positions fully staffed, we possess the capability to systematically service

and repair every single one of those vehicles annually,” Kshetrapal added.

Speaking at the event were Lt. Gen. Robert D. Harter, Commanding General of the U.S.

Army Reserve Command, along with Maj. Gen. Bobby Ginn, Jr., the adjutant general of Mississippi.

“This building represents a whole lot more than just a shiny new place to store our

vehicles and get them ready for training and combat”, stated Harter.

“This building represents the teamwork we put in to get here and the teamwork we will

rely on in the way forward”, Harter added.

The new ECS location improves maintenance efficiency, reduces overhead, and

enhances equipment accountability. Consolidation also allows the Army Reserve to

divest aging facilities, eliminate redundant infrastructure, reduce sustainment costs, and

reinvest savings into higher‑impact readiness capabilities.