Army Reserve Center nears completion on JFTB

The following information was released through Defense Video and Imagery System. Story by Dave Palmer.

The California National Guard’s Joint Forces Training Base here will soon be home to the 79th Sustainment Support Command’s new Army Reserve Center.

The JFTB supports various military units, as well as other national, state and local organizations, with facilities and resources needed for training and real-world emergencies. Maj. Phillip Oster, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s Santa Ana Resident Office deputy spends much of his time ensuring projects like this $25 million center meet or exceed those requirements.

“The project was designed at the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design level for Silver,” said Oster.

LEED is how the U.S. Green Building Council rates a project for its design and achievement in categories like sustainability, water efficiency, energy conservation and design innovation.

“The project made great use of recycled materials, waterless urinals for water conservation and solar tubes that light office, maintenance and common areas in the day time,” added Oster.

Providing state-of-the-art facilities like the 12,500 square-foot Organizational Maintenance Shop will provide work bays and offices for units to not only maintain their equipment, but train and utilize their skill which enhances retention, according to Oster.

Secure parking and storage for vehicles is being addressed with more than 28,000 square-feet in organizational parking.

“The vehicle storage area was covered in recycled material that cut costs and allows for drainage,” Oster said. “That and the adjacent retention basin raise capacity of the existing base drainage system by allowing more water to percolate back into the ground.”

The 15-acre tract where the project is taking shape is the traditional maintenance zone of the base, complete with an outer sound wall and a green-zone area of trees giving about a 50-foot buffer before the outer wall.

“An environmental assessment was done several years ago that called for 16, five-gallon trees to be planted in that area,” said Oster. “Along with base security and leadership, we’ve worked out a plan for 15-gallon trees, much larger, that will provide sound and light dampening and are arranged to not infringe on base security.”

Along with overseeing construction, the District performs quality control on the project. Oster said he expects the project to be completed in October.

Featured photo

The 12,500-square-foot Organizational Maintenance Shop will provide work bays and offices for several units. Solar tubes light the maintenance, office and common areas in the day time.

Photo by Dave Palmer.