MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- While many in the nation were remembering Pearl Harbor, the Alabama Army National Guard and the 81st Regional Support Command, US Army Reserve conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony on the new Joint Force Headquarters Armed Forces Readiness Center here on December 7, 2011.
In attendance among the Soldiers and civilians stationed here were Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, Mayor of Montgomery, Mr. Todd Strange, The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Perry G. Smith and Maj. Gen. Gill P. Beck, commander of the 81st Regional Support Command.
Although the occupants started moving in last December, the building was only finished recently and the work continued around the building's employees. The current facility replaced seven other older and geographically separate buildings and has already saved money in energy costs even before many of the energy-saving measures were fully implemented and is the largest solar project in the state.
"I was surprise at the connectivity," said Mayor Strange, speaking of the facility's communication system.
"This building is modern," said Smith. "Just like the National Guard is today. This building is for warriors because we still live in a dangerous world."
"After 10 years of war, together, the Army Reserve and the National Guard have made our Army stronger." Beck said. "What we have here is an example of what makes America great and how Americans respond to challenges and how Alabama is leading the way in bringing us together as one team."
Gov. Bentley also praised the finished project but added, "It's not the building, it's the people who occupy the building that are important. I'm proud of this building but prouder of all of you."
The units that are housed at the new facility are the 7233rd Medical Support Unit, the 358th Medical Detachment Veterinary Services, the 282nd Quartermaster Company and the 206th Transportation Company of the Army Reserve and for the National Guard, the Joint Force Headquarters, the 131st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment and the 151st Army Band.
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