RELEASE NUMBER: 140623-01
DATE POSTED: JUNE 23, 2014
Ground breaking ceremonies for CA
by Jerry Green
95th Civil Affairs Brigade (A), Public Affairs Officer
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (USASOC News Service, June 23, 2014) - In the glare of the morning sun here, five gold trimmed dirt shovels stand ready between the two massive construction excavators, marking the location for ground breaking ceremonies for the 97th and 98th Civil Affairs Battalion’s new headquarters buildings, on the Yarborough Complex, June 20, 2014.
“We pray that these buildings will be the bridge between the Civil Affairs Soldiers and the people who need their assistance in the Pacific and South America regions,” said 98th Civil Affairs Battalion Chaplain, Bryan J. Hedrick, who delivered the invocation to the more than 75 Civil Affairs Soldiers and civilians on hand for the event.
“It is a beautiful day here at Fort Bragg, and a great day for the 97th and 98th civil affairs battalions. These facilities have been a long time coming, and I think you will like them, “ said Col. Steven A. Baker, commander, Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, Wilmington, N.C.
“The two buildings that we are breaking ground for today are the next two in the five site project for the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade,” said Baker.
Joining Lt. Col. Peter J. Hebert, 95th Civil Affairs deputy commander and Sgt. Maj. Gilbert C. “Nick” Troxler, brigade command sergeant major, manning the five shovels were, Col. Baker, Amy Locklear, Project Engineer, United States Army Core of Engineers, Wilmington Dist.,Wilmingotn, N.C., Rachel McColley-Gasowski, Project Engineer., Caddell Construction Co. and Tyler Stephens, Project Manager, Caddell Construction Co.
The new buildings will include administrative space, conference rooms, classrooms, group operations center and operations center, along with unit storage areas, lockers, toilets, showers, and required mechanical, electrical and communication rooms. The 91st and 92nd battalions' facilities have already been completed..
Already, the clearing of the area is underway and completion of the new facilities is scheduled for FY 16.
The 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne) comprised of five regional battalion is responsible for training, equipping and deploying forces in 26 countries to conduct civil affairs operations. For more information about the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne), go to Civil Affairs Recruiting at http://www.bragg.army.mil/sorb/CA.htm.