WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Representatives from the Navy, Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force joined together to officially begin building a new home for a Marine Reserve unit near Dayton, Ohio, April 3.
A local small business is building a $10-million Reserve center and vehicle maintenance facility for the 180 Marines of Military Police Company "C," Marine Logistics Group, who deploy to perform security and law enforcement duties in support of contingency and rotational missions around the world.
"I'm very proud to be part of this team effort between Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Marine Forces Reserve, the Air Force and Army leadership here at this base, and our corporate partners to provide the best, most efficient, and cutting-edge facility," said Navy Lt. Torben Smith, public works officer for NAVFAC Midwest's Public Works Department Central. "The Marines deserve the highest-quality facility we can provide -- at the right cost, in a timely manner -- and I know we'll continue to succeed at that with this project. I'm confident we are building a great facility that will effectively support the Marines and bring them added security within the fenceline of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base."
The new facility is designed to be durable, energy-efficient and sustainable, and will replace the Marines' current home, a deteriorating 1950s-era building located in a high-crime area of Dayton. Building a new facility on base will provide the Marines with a modern, properly configured facility that is located within the fenced secure perimeter of the base. Providing a quality work space will also support the unit's ability to retain and adequately train its members for deployment.
"It's not often that the Marines get a brand new facility, so we're really looking forward to having this new Reserve center and vehicle maintenance facility to support our mission," said Lt. Col. David Slack, officer-in-charge of Military Police Company C. "We're looking forward to being your new neighbors on base."
"We're looking forward to welcoming you on base," said Air Force Col. Bradley Spacy, commander of the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Contracting activity NAVFAC Midwest, civil engineers from the 88th Air Base Wing, the Marine Forces Reserve Facilities, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have teamed with Dayton small business Butt Construction to build this new facility.
Work is expected to be complete in spring 2010.