Guard's new reserve center wise use of tax dollars says Carnahan

By Bill Phelan
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

JEFFERSON BARRACKS, Mo. - The Missouri National Guard's new $26.1 million Joint Armed Forces Reserve Center at Jefferson Barracks is a wise use of taxpayer dollars according to U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan.

Missouri National Guard Chief of Staff, Col. Wendul G. Hagler, and Maj. Stephan Baker, a logistics officer for the 70th Troop Command, accompanied Carnahan, D-St. Louis, on a tour of the building Sept. 10.

The center will serve as headquarters for the U.S. Army Reserve in St. Louis and the 70th Troop Command, the largest brigade in the Missouri National Guard. Guard units began moving into the building Aug. 30.

Built by K&S Associates of St. Louis, the center consists of 140,000 square feet of new training space, a three-story, 133,000 square-foot administration building, and a one-story, 7,500 square-foot maintenance facility.

"It's very impressive," said Carnahan, after the tour. "There are other examples of this type of building around the country - joint shared structures, which gives you more bang for the taxpayer dollar."

Carnahan said the real value of the center would become obvious in the event of a state emergency.

"This building will allow for more functionality and coordination, particularly in the case of an emergency situation," he said. "Missouri has more natural disasters than just about any other part of the country between flooding, tornadoes, and ice storms. And we're located on a major earthquake fault line. So having this facility will be a great way to coordinate the response to those disasters when they occur."

The reserve center is earthquake proof and was constructed with certain anti-terrorism features.

Architects Ross & Baruzzini, of Webster Groves, and structural engineers Mason & Associates, of St. Louis, designed the red brick center to blend in with existing 19th century structures at Jefferson Barracks, a fact not lost on Carnahan.

"The building is obviously modern and functional inside, but it looks like it's been here for a hundred years," he said.

While at Jefferson Barracks, Carnahan also addressed a meeting of the Jefferson Barracks Community Council, a historic preservation organization.

Established in 1826, Jefferson Barrack is the oldest continually used military installation west of the Mississippi River.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.