FORT HOOD - Fort Hood and community leaders hosted a ribbon cutting to celebrate the opening of North Fort Hood's new Operational Readiness Training Complex, (ORTC). It is one the biggest projects to take place on North Fort Hood since it's creation during World War II in 1942.
North Fort Hood is located in Gatesville. It is one of only two mobilization sites in the country where National Guard and Army Reserve units come to train before deploying. This new complex is expected to increase those training capabilities.
"Three to four times a year we will use all the capacity we have. So, we've already demonstrated we needed it," said Col. Daniel Hurlbut, commander of the 120th Infantry Brigade. Hurlbut's unit is responsible for advising and training the units that come to North Fort Hood for mobilization. He say this new complex is a huge boost to their capabilities by increasing the amount of soldiers they can train at once.
"In a time of war or crisis, we are going to use all of it and then some. This was sorely needed," he said.
Planning for the $51-million complex began in 2005. It consists of five buildings that total 170,000 square feet. Two of the buildings are troop barracks, and a third is for senior non-commissioned officer quarters. This increases their housing by 30% by adding 880 new bed spaces. The additional housing will allow them to train 3,500 soldiers at one time compared to 2,600 before the new barracks.
The complex also includes a new battalion headquarters with classrooms, and a new dining facility to replace three smaller ones currently being used. The 15,000 sq foot dining facility can feed 1,400 soldiers in one hour.
All five buildings of the complex are in short walking distance, making the housing, dining facility and headquarters more convenient for the visiting units.
"This is a huge leap forward and long over due," said Bob Reister, mobilizations division chief. "This is a much better set up.It is faster, easier and more efficient."
Each year more than 10,000 soldier mobilize out of North Fort Hood. Other agencies like the Boy Scouts and police departments also use the training facilities. The first units to use the new complex are expected to arrive in a few weeks.
