BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - The Fort Custer Armed Forces Reserve Center and Area Maintenance Support Activity opened June 2 and now supports over 400 Army Reserve soldiers.
The Fort Custer Reserve Center and Area Maintenance Support Activity cost $9.9 million to build, contains over 46,000 square feet of space, a nearly 5,000 square foot unheated storage building and a military equipment parking area that is over 13,000 square yards. Construction was completed in 2011.
“With its close proximity to Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, Fort Custer Army National Guard Base, in Michigan, is one of the most heavily used training facilities in the Midwest,” said Brig. Gen. Alton G. Berry, commanding general 88th Regional Support Command. “It is a premier training site for small-arms and maintenance training at the company level," he added.
The construction of both facilities is the result of the cost savings, improve training and deployment capabilities and improve homeland defense capability recommendations in the Department of Defense's 2005 Base Realignment and Closure report. This report recommended closing one Army Reserve Center in Lansing, one Area Maintenance Support Activity in Battle Creek and to construct a multifunctional reserve Center capable of accommodating reserve units.
“The cost of between the active duty and the reserve and National Guard offers a return on investment that is unmatched,” said Judy Robinson, representative from Congressman Tim Walberg who represents Michigan 7th Congressional District.
The reserve center contains administrative, classroom, storage, maintenance and supporting space for the units to accomplish their mission.
Unique features in the reserve center include the basic design with administrative, training, storage and maintenance wings that emanate from a central support area that can be easily expanded for future growth.
It's also unique to be constructed by the Army Reserve, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and owned and maintained by the Michigan National Guard.