Saturday, November 6, 2010

Ft Knox Restructuring Around Core Strength

As part of the approved 2005 BRAC Recommendations, Ft. Knox, KY is expanding and consolidating to accommodate new and former personnel, transitioning various elements of its human resources and training departments while bringing key reserve units home to meet current Army readiness requirements.

By Col. Jeffrey S. Ogden,
      Deputy Garrison Commander-Transformation
      Fort Knox

A&M: What does BRAC transformation look like at Fort Knox?
The realignment process began when Congress passed the Base Realignment and Closure law in 2005.

Col. Ogden: BRAC 2005 brings the Army Accessions Command, Cadet Command, the Human Resources Command, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team 1st Infantry Division, the 3rd Sustainment Command, 84th Training Command (Army Reserve), 70th Division (Army Reserve), Army Reserve Readiness Training Center (ARRTC) and 100th Division (Army Reserve) as well as other Army units to Fort Knox by September 15, 2011.

The Armor School will relocate to Fort Benning, Ga. and join the Infantry School to become part of the Maneuver Center of Excellence.

The Human Resources Command, the Army’s military personnel command, will consolidate its offices from St. Louis, Mo., Indianapolis, Ind., and Alexandria, Va. to Fort Knox. This move will integrate the personnel management for Active and Reserve Army soldiers at one location.

The Human Resource Center of Excellence (HRCoE) will also include the Army’s Accessions Command with responsibility for Army Recruiting Command and the Army Cadet Command.

The HRCoE will be responsible for all Army soldiers from their initial recruitment or ROTC through retirement and their benefits beyond retirement.

The Commanding General of US Army Accessions Command will be the lead agency of the HRCoE, and the future senior commander of Fort Knox.


A&M: What has Fort Knox been doing to prepare?

Col. Ogden: On Fort Knox, there is much activity toward our transition. In addition to the new buildings for office space and operations, there are a host of construction projects. We are busy widening and improving our road infrastructure, updating utilities, playgrounds and fitness centers, renovated a brand-new high school, and a opened a new gas station with shoppette.

The Human Resource Center of Excellence will be housed in an 883,000 square foot complex that is scheduled to be ready for occupancy in June 2010. The complex will be named in honor a LTG Timothy J. Maude, who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon.

The Maude Complex includes six interconnected buildings in a chevron design layout to include over 4,400 office spaces and 3,765 parking spaces. The project has been built to achieve LEED Silver design standards using recycled and renewable materials with energy reduction levels to meet requirements.The facilities for the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division are complete and being occupied. Several buildings, including a Brigade Headquarters and Annex, Company Operation Facilities, two barracks facilities, and a dining hall were constructed to accommodate the deployable unit.

A&M: How is the realignment affecting the local economy?

Col. Ogden: The realignment is generating construction jobs as we build the Human Resource Center of Excellence and with more permanent parties moving to the area, Fort Knox expects its employees to have a positive economic impact on the local economies, generating tax revenues and sales. Members of the local community can expect new residents who will bring a need for more infrastructure in education, transportation and housing.

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