Photo By Sgt. Spencer Rhodes | Jerry Agresti, chairman for the Economic Development Corporation in Clay County, sits...... read more read more
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STARKE, Fla. — “We’re a 47 million dollar impact on the economy here,” said Lt. Col Frank Zenko, the deputy post commander for Camp Blanding Joint Training Center. “It’s really imperative that we’re able to show the community what’s here, what we’re capable of doing and really how interactive we are with the community.”
According to Zenko, last year’s Industry Day had been a success albeit a shorter and less interactive one that only lasted a couple of hours. This year civic leaders and business members from surrounding communities were invited for an all day tour of various areas around the installation and its full time operations.
The first stop was the Combined Support and Maintenance Shop, the biggest of its kind in the state of Florida says Maj. Geri Swarts, the surface maintenance manager at the CSMS. They have a full time staff that can meet the needs of any and all repair or maintenance needs for the Florida Army National Guard’s equipment, including a completely static-free room with special flooring and wall tiles for electronic equipment repair.
“We have everything from motor pool maintenance, armorers, paint, carpentry, the full gamut,” said Swarts.
Attendees were even able to interact with a M1117 Armored Security Vehicle, traditionally used by military police Soldiers, that was in the process of being repainted. Many of the individuals on the tour had been near, passed or just knew of Camp Blanding but indicated that the scope of work and general activity involved shocked them. Tim Fegan, an employee from Merrill Lynch who had the opportunity to climb in the M1117 described how his experience was greater than anticipated.
“I think with everything that is involved, it’s just amazing the things that are done here all the time. This trip has far and away exceeded all of my expectations for what I was going to experience,” said Fegan. “I mean I’ve lived not far from here for years and I knew of Camp Blanding but really had no idea of the actual purpose or things they had here. If I was invited back for this again a week from now, I would totally be here. I mean, if I could bring my kids to this I would.”
Among the many stops was the Regional Training Institute, a nationally recognized military academic institution that trains Soldiers in various occupational specialties and advanced courses. Col. Eric Lefevre, the regimental commander for the school, gave a detailed and interactive tour of the facility, giving those in attendance an accurate understanding of the quality amount of learning that goes on year round for Soldiers and civilians from all over the country.
Part of the experience was being able to see the actual mock video-game style controls used to train Soldiers on up to date Air Defense Artillery systems. For Jerry Agresti, Chairman of the Economic Development Corporation in Clay County, this was one of his favorite parts. Having flown F-4 Phantoms in the Navy during Vietnam, Agresti saw Air Defense Artillery from a different perspective and said that being able to see it from the other side at the RTI was incredibly interesting.
“I was here 15 years ago on a similar tour to this one, and the difference between the facilities and resources then compared to now, I’ll tell you what, it’s like night and day. I’m just amazed at what they’ve been able to do here since then,” said Agresti.
| Date Taken: | 08.04.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.04.2015 13:06 |
| Story ID: | 172117 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 147 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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