FORT BELVOIR, Va. - Construction of the new $19.6 million Office, Chief of the Army Reserve (OCAR) headquarters officially began here Monday with a ceremonial groundbreaking on the future site of the 88,000 square foot facility.
"This building is in part due to the understanding by Army leadership that the Army Reserve is no longer a strategic reserve, but an operational one. We are a part of the total Army," said the Chief of the U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Jack C. Stultz during the ceremony. "I want to thank [Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army] Ms. Joyce Morrow for her support in helping to make this facility a reality and truly supporting our mission."
The new facility will accommodate more than 400 personnel who now occupy leased space in Crystal City as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005. This realignment is part of BRAC Recommendation 132 that moves Army personnel from leased space in the National Capital Region to Fort Belvoir. Included in this recommendation is the realignment of some Office of the Administrative Assistant (OAA) personnel, the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, and other Army personnel in leased space.
The Chief described what he called a "five step process" to complete BRAC realignments of the command and control functions of the Army Reserve leadership. The first step was the breaking of ground on the U.S. Army Reserve Command headquarters at Fort Bragg. The second step was the reorganization of Army Reserve personnel within the Pentagon. The third step is the breaking of ground for the Office, Chief of the Army Reserve building at Fort Belvoir. The fourth and fifth steps are the completion of steps one and three.
Stultz and his senior enlisted advisor Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Schultz were joined by the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army Ms. Joyce E. Morrow, Assistant Chief of the Army Reserve Mr. James Snyder, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Commanding General for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs Maj. Gen. Michael R. Eyre, Army Reserve Ambassador Ron Adolphi, Fort Belvoir Garrison Commander Col. John J. Strycula and his senior enlisted advisor Command Sgt. Maj. Gabriel Berhane.
During the ceremony, partners in the project provided a few remarks.
"This event marks a significant milestone in the BRAC timeline and journey at Fort Belvoir," said Morrow. "It is a reflection of the enormous contribution of all the partners involved in the process."
The contractor charged with building the facility, Hensel and Phelps, promised "to deliver a state-of-the-art facility that the Army Reserve deserves."
As part of the Installation Management Command, Fort Belvoir will provide service and support to the OCAR facility and its employees. The garrison is gaining 19,300 employees and nearly 30 tenants like the OCAR as part of the 2005 BRAC legislation.
"The Fort Belvoir garrison staff and I welcome you to Fort Belvoir and we look forward to supporting you," said Strycula. "There are 317 days left until the BRAC deadline when all of the personnel must be here at Fort Belvoir. With that said, let's get digging."
Overall, BRAC 2005 impacted the Army Reserve through the disestablished select regional commands, established new commands and units, and realigned command and control functions.
Editor's Note: Mr. Travis Edwards is a public affairs officer at Fort Belvoir and an Army Reserve public affairs noncommissioned officer serving with the 80th Training Command. For more information on Fort Belvoir's BRAC visit www.belvoir.army.mil or find us on Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter. For more information on the U.S. Army Reserve, please visit www.usar.army.mil, www.myarmyreserve.blogspot.com, or friend "My Army Reserve" on Facebook.
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Groundbreaking of New OCAR Facility on Fort Belvoir
Groundbreaking Ceremony for US Army Reserve Headquarters Facility on Fort Belvoir
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