SAN MIGUEL, Calif. – The California Army National Guard’s 315th Engineer Vertical Construction Company, from Oxnard, Calif., has been tasked to renovate buildings originally designed to house World War II and Korean War soldiers at Camp Roberts.
The 315th VCC will conduct its renovations throughout the month of May during its annual training exercise. The company is also making repairs to drain pipes located in and around the installation.
Sgt. Heather Johnson, a horizontal construction engineer, said she believes that the repairs “will help Camp Roberts become safe, giving each soldier great experiences that they can take outside of the Army.”
“The mission is fun and educational; learning the history of the buildings and how to do my job and use my hands,” Johnson said.
Camp Roberts holds one of the largest parade grounds – the length of fourteen football fields – on any military facility. Four hundred thirty six thousand World War II infantry and field artillery troops came through the intensive 17-week training cycle at Camp Roberts to prepare for deployment to combat zones during World War II.
Camp Roberts Department of Logistics selected the Oxnard-based company because of its ability to work without constraints as a direct result of the 315th’s partnership with the Department of Water and Power, which has helped clear out limitations to access the water and power supply to the unit.
The Company returned from an overseas deployment in 2015 and was recently reassigned to the 224th Sustainment Brigade.
“The 315th provides a unique capability based on the skill sets of construction and repairs. I can’t wait to see the finished product of their hard work and diligence to get the mission done,” Brigade Commander Col. Julian H. Bond said.
At the conclusion of the unit’s annual training, once crumbling buildings with much history will be once again been given a new life for soldiers to work from now and in the future.