WASHINGTON - Longtime visitors of the District of Columbia National Guard Armory don't have look long to notice something different about the 73-year-old facility. The home of the D.C. Army and Air National Guard is part of a multi-million dollar beatification and renovation project.
Patriotic banners line the lamp posts in front of the armory featuring values soldiers and airmen live by—seven values for soldiers and three Air Force core values. And then there are the two full-sized aircraft flanking the entrances which include a UH-1V "Huey" Army helicopter and an F-16 "Falcon" Air Force jet plane.
"I don't know who came up with the idea to have the helicopter out front, but we found one and I had a base built to hold it," said Army Col. Anthony Jackson, Construction and Facilities Management Office director. "After we got the helicopter, someone asked me what about getting a jet too. I just took the idea and ran with it. The 113th Wing found a jet that used to be in their inventory. Then we had to get approval from the State Historical Preservation Office, the Parks and Planning Commission, and the Fine Arts Commission."
According to Jackson, the District of Columbia National Guard is the only organization in D.C. to have a military monument outside of a military installation.
In three years, the CFMO has transformed the armory with millions of dollars in operational, functional, and cosmetic changes. The CFMO's director wants there to be no mistake that this is the home of the District of Columbia National Guard.
"The major end state for these renovations is to provide an adequate place for our soldiers and airmen to train for the missions, both city and federal, that the District of Columbia National Guard supports," said Jackson.
As a 31-year D.C National Guard soldier, Jackson was also the commander of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion. He also sees the renovations as a benefit to recruit and retain soldiers by providing them a better work environment in which to grow and serve.
"When new soldiers, potential recruits, and their parents come to the armory, it needs to look professional and welcoming," he said. "We are in the nation's capital, we are a military organization, and lots of dignitaries come here, so the first impression of us as an organization is often made when a person visits the armory.”
Henry N. McLucas, the armory’s master planner, adds “The District of Columbia National Guard Readiness Center has a mission to provide an atmosphere that allows soldiers to work, train, and have a sense of belonging. The facility has to recruit from the outside and inside, and the new renovations help with this task.”
According to McLucas, the renovations were challenging because it was important to enhance the facility while preserving its architectural legacy.
The District of Columbia Armory opened in 1941 as the headquarters and training facility for the National Guard. In addition to supporting the military’s administrative and training needs, the Washington Convention and Sports Authority manages the facility’s approximately 70,000 square feet of exhibition space and 10,000 seat capacity to host community and sporting events. One such event has been the presidential inaugural balls, which has taken place in the armory since 1949.
When Jackson became the CFMO director, there were a few existing construction-renovation contracts in place, most notably for the District of Columbia National Guard Museum. Now, Jackson and his team of 44 soldiers, civilians and contractors oversee 25 to 30 contracts at a time.
"In my first 30 days on the job, I went to a class at Jackson Barracks in Louisiana to learn how we could more effectively manage the contracts we had and learn how we could secure more funding to support the upgrades we needed and wanted," said Jackson. "Once we learned how to better use the resources available to us, we took full advantage and I am proud of what we have done so far."
Since 2012, more than $47 million has been spent to renovate the armory and portions of a 30-acre, 14-building campus, home to the Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy in Laurel, Maryland. The Youth ChalleNGe Program promotes the advancements of at-risk youth in education, 16 to 18 years of age, to facilitate them getting their General Education Development transcript.
Nearly every quadrant of the armory has been renovated or soon will be. The massive domed armory ceiling sports a fresh new look, lobbies are redesigned and feature the District of Columbia National Guard logo, new office spaces were constructed, and a new "ceremonial room" provides a space for units to support their needs for a seated ceremony. Sixty-eight of the 90 restrooms are renovated. Jackson said the appearance of the restrooms was one of the biggest complaints.
Three years into the job, Jackson said he can look back at the accomplishments and look forward to the goals ahead, which he calls team success.
"It's not about me, it is about what the 44 people in the CFMO have done to make these changes happen," he said. "We are a team."
| Date Taken: | 10.17.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.17.2014 11:56 |
| Story ID: | 145336 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DC, US |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, CFMO dedication leads to major changes for armory, by Gigail Cureton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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