Photo By Maj. Jessica Donnelly | Construction is conducted for improvements on the South Carolina National Guard armory...... read more read more
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GREENWOOD, S.C. -- Construction projects are underway for improvements on the South Carolina National Guard armory in Greenwood, February 2019, to provide a safer, more efficient, and more accessible workspace for Soldiers.
The Greenwood armory, which is the home of Alpha Company, 151st Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB), 228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade, is undergoing a full renovation that includes a new roof, windows, parking lot, kitchen, latrines, ductwork, motor pool fencing, new signs, enhanced safety features, and more.
The improvements help support not only safety, but also retention efforts for the South Carolina National Guard by instilling a sense of pride in their service for the Soldiers stationed at the armory, explained U.S. Army Lt. Col. DM Hanks, South Carolina National Guard Plans and Programming manager.
“These renovations contribute to personnel readiness because the Soldiers are proud to come to drill and continue serving,” said Hanks.
The improved facilities also lend to Defense Support to Civil Authorities and a more effective response during a natural disaster, by providing a location for operations and planning with first responders that is safe and secure. During these response efforts, South Carolina National Guard Soldiers report to armories to work, eat, and sleep, while providing assistance in the communities in support of civil authorities. In recent years, thousands of South Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have been activated for the statewide flood of 2015, Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Hurricane Irma in 2017, Hurricane Florence in 2018, and numerous ice storms. The more than 60 South Carolina National Guard armories across the state have served as central hubs during these events, which were around-the-clock operations, and in some cases lasted for months.
Improvements are also being made on other armories in the state with different levels of construction and renovations like the Greenwood armory, or special projects such as latrine upgrades, parking lot renovations, improving drainage, fixing roofs, and other improvements based on needs of the armories, explained Zach Hicks, South Carolina Military Department Facilities Management Office. For instance, the Camden and Myrtle Beach armories recently received new female latrine renovations, while the North Charleston and Edgefield armories are scheduled to receive the upgrades, as well in the near future.
The needed improvements are identified through facility assessments and typically two armories receive improvements per year, based on available funding and the size of the project. The projects are paid for by a combination of state and federal funding, depending on the scope of the renovations, explained Hanks. The timeframe for the projects range based on the scale of the renovation. Hanks said, the Greenwood armory project took approximately 18 months, including design and construction. The expected completion is mid-March 2019.
In addition to Alpha Company, 151st ESB, the Greenwood armory also serves as a recruiting location for the South Carolina National Guard and the renovations can have a direct impact on recruiting, said Hanks.
“It can influence new recruits, since it is the first impression they receive of the South Carolina National Guard,” he added. “It’s exciting to see the changes being made.”
| Date Taken: | 02.19.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 02.19.2019 16:11 |
| Story ID: | 311157 |
| Location: | GREENWOOD, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 290 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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