Two 18-wheel tractor trailers departed the McAfee Center June 17, the first in a massive series of deliveries as part of a contract to relocate and enable the functions now performed at Fort Monmouth, Fort Belvoir, and Eatontown to be performed in the future at Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Maj. Gen. Randolph P. Strong, CECOM Commanding General, came to the McAfee Center to see off the first truck, meet the loaders and talk to the husband-and-wife driving team of Chad and Tammy Beckley. The second truck to depart was also driven by a husband-and-wife driving team: Dale and Tina Joles.
"It really signals the beginning of a very significant move effort," said Gene Coddington, a C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) Logistics Movement Officer. Somewhere in the vicinity of 1,400 fully loaded 18 wheelers will follow this first delivery in a little more than a year, along with moves that require special equipment to carry heavy, oversized, and unique loads along with a variety of other vehicle types.
The transition of C4ISR components to APG will cover more than 120 highly technical and complex communications-electronics research and development laboratories; 100,000 pieces of communications-electronics test equipment; information technology equipment and other components; design, fabrication and integration facilities and a broad array of classified equipment and technology.
The equipment will be moved into 14 buildings now in various stages of construction at APG to re-create a wide variety of work spaces - including complex labs, administrative areas and secure facilities. "As buildings become available, we will occupy them," said Coddington.
Between August and late December of this year Coddington expects nine buildings to become available at APG with the completion of the "Phase One" construction efforts there, meaning personnel at both locations can expect to see very busy periods of trucking actvity.
There will be somewhat of a lull in trucking in the early part of next year. Next spring into summer, however, five more buildings are expected to be completed as part of "Phase Two," and trucking will pick up again from early spring through August.
The deliveries are part of an $81 million contract signed in mid-December that involves the various assets of Army Team C4ISR not only at Fort Monmouth but also at organizational elements currently located at Fort Belvoir, Va.; Eatontown, N.J.; Huntsville, Ala; and Fort Knox, Ky.
The overall transition of Army Team C4ISR to APG involves phased construction of facilities at APG, domain configurations, split-based operations and phased movements of equipment and personnel and is intended to minimize disruption of the Army Team C4ISR mission and to continue seamless support to the warfighter.
CACI International Inc. signed the contract and will provide overall project management for the move, which was mandated under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) law and is to be completed no later than Sept. 15, 2011.
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