Reserve Center honors Congressman Young

Army Reserve Magazine, Summer, 2005 by Hector Diaz

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. -- On Saturday, Feb. 5, before a crowd of 200 dignitaries and military personnel, The Honorable C.W. Bill Young (R-Fla.) and Pentagon officials assembled at the Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC) in Pinellas Park, Fla., to mark the opening of the $47-million dollar state-of-the-art facility with a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony.

The new C.W. Bill Young Armed Forces Reserve Center, named after the current Chairman of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, will support military personnel from both the Army Reserve Medical Command Headquarters and the Florida National Guard. The modern 236,752 square foot facility provides a multitude of services and functions that include: administrative activities for Army Reserve and National Guard, an assembly area, education and classroom facilities, and special training and support areas.

The dedication ceremony attracted local dignitaries and Pentagon leadership including Chief of the Army Reserve LTG James Helmly, Director of the Army National Guard LTG Roger Shultz, Army Surgeon General LTG Kevin Kiley, and Adjutant General for Florida MG Douglas Burnett. Burnett asked the junior Soldier in attendance, SPC Shannon Bridges, to assist Congressman Young with the ceremonial ribbon cutting.

"This is a great opportunity to showcase the greatness of your Army--America's Army today," explained Helmly prior to cutting the ribbon. "Taxpayers get double-duty and more for their money with this high tech Armed Forces Reserve Center." Helmly went on to say that "Soldiers from the United States Army Reserve and the Army National Guard serve and train side-by-side in this beautiful, very efficient, and effective new facility."

Helmly said, "The AFRC is home to the new Army Reserve Medical Command which will command and control all of our Army Reserve medical Soldiers across the United States and Puerto Rico. It is appropriate that we honor and thank the namesake of this Reserve Center Chairman C.W. Bill Young, a leader of stature and strength."

"These are challenging and dangerous times for our Army and our nation; but as grateful as we are for this fine facility, it is merely brick and mortar. Chairman Young's greatest concerns are not for buildings, but for Soldiers who train here. We're proud to have Soldiers who will go forward to save the lives of other Soldiers on the battlefield," Helmly added.

During his speech, Young adamantly expressed the importance of this new facility for military training. "We're proud of this facility, and believe it is beautiful," Young said before cutting the ribbon and offering tours of the facility. "When you look inside, I think you'll be very, very impressed. But if you want to see something really beautiful, look into the eyes, the hearts, the souls, of (military personnel) in uniform today. If you want to see something really beautiful, that's where you'll find it, because they are all volunteers. Nobody made them serve in the military. They do it because they love this nation."

The C.W. Bill Young Armed Forces Reserve Center is situated on more than 58 acres in the Gateway Center, a business-residential-industrial complex in Pinellas Park north of St. Petersburg. In addition to the main structure, this high tech facility has state-of-the-art features that include: an access-controlled admittance system, cast-in-place concrete and humidity controlled vaults in each heated storage building, an energy efficient, motion-activated lighting system and T-1 based information management architecture.

The grounds also include new retention and detention ponds, landscaping, perimeter security fencing, and retaining walls to restrict access. The AFRC's integrated support system consists of an Organizational Maintenance Shop, with a fuel station, a vehicle wash station, a lubricant distribution system, two unheated storage buildings, a helicopter-landing pad and a postal facility.

The training center is home to the new Army Reserve Medical Command (AR-MEDCOM) Headquarters, the 319th Medical Detachment, and the Headquarters, Alpha and Charlie Companies of the 53rd Separate Infantry Brigade, Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG), and the 253rd Military Intelligence Company, FLARNG.

The AR-MEDCOM, commanded by MG Kenneth Herbst, will soon have battle command for approximately 30,000 Soldiers assigned to 258 medical units stationed throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. The AR-MEDCOM headquarters workforce will consist of Active Guard Reserve (AGR) full time military, and Army civilians. The permanent workforce will be supported by contract personnel. The AR-MEDCOM activation ceremony is scheduled for October 2005.