Army Reserve Center to undergo $7M facelift

CNMI Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog, third right, and Brig. Gen. Stephen K. Curda, center, prepare to shovel dirt in yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony of the Saipan Army Reserve Center revitalization project. Others in the photo are, from left, Army & Air Force Exchange Service area manager Rick Fair, Civilian Aid to the Secretary of the Army Viola Alepuyo, U.S. Delegate Gregorio “Kilili” Sablan’s district director Mike Tenorio, Joint Region Marianas Regional Engineer Capt. Stephanie Jones, and U.S. Command Public Affairs chief William Nutter. (Jon Perez)

The United States Army Reserve Center on Saipan is undergoing a major facelift as the project, once completed early next year, would provide a safer and bigger facility to all CNMI reservists. Brig. Gen. Stephen K. Curda joined local officials in yesterday’s groundbreaking in Puerto Rico.

Two of the buildings, the Staff Sgt. Wilgene Lieto Professional Development Facility and the Cpl. Derence Jack Administration Support Facility, at the center were dedicated in honor of the two soldiers who died in Iraq 10 years ago.

The construction is a Congressional approved project for the military that has a price tag of $7 million with $5 million coming from the U.S. Army Reserve funds. The project aims to revitalize the existing reserve center to ensure troop readiness.

Curda, the Commander of the 9th Mission Support Command based in Fort Shafter in Hawaii, said the project was a long time coming and part of their efforts to improve the facilities of the Army Reserve Center here on Saipan.

“The project has three things in mind. First for safety, we’re making all buildings concrete and typhoon proof with Saipan being hit by a strong typhoon last year. All buildings will have concrete roofing,” said Curda, who served in various capacities in South America and Korea.

“It will then have a bigger space, an additional 3,000 square feet to have more facilities to help revitalize the Army Reserve unit here in the CNMI. It will have spaces for classrooms, work and offices, and storage,” he added.

The third is part of the Army’s Going Green campaign as energy efficient lights, solar panels, and plumbing fixtures will be installed. “The Army is going green that’s why we’re going to use energy efficient with the lights, low cost toilet and plumbing materials, and heaters.”

Capt. Stephanie Jones, Joint Region Marianas regional engineer who represented Joint Region Marianas commander Read Adm. Bette Bolivar, said the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday represents the strong partnership of the Armed Forces and the CNMI.

“Improving the facility is part of securing peace and toward a common goal to secure the region. We also reaffirmed the [CNMI-Armed Forces] partnership after Typhoon Soudelor where we helped in the recovery and rebuilding of Saipan,” said Jones, the project’s lead engineer.

CNMI Veterans Affairs Office director Gregorio M. Sablan Jr. said more units could now be assigned on Saipan with the new Army Reserve Center.

She also helped in the structural and architectural design of the project, which was awarded to Guam-based contractor Wolf Creek Federal Services. The project is expected to be completed in February 2017.

Wolf Creek quality control managers and site and health officers Esther Javellana and Emmanuel Sebastian said they would be staying on Saipan until the project is completed. “But of course we’ll return to Guam during weekends and if our office needs us,” said Javellana.

“We’re just going to make sure if the design is followed and everything on it is implemented. We got a sub-contractor here on Saipan for our construction personnel and other staff,” added Sebastian.

The project includes: enclosing buildings in concrete masonry walls and add concrete roof for typhoon resistance; adding a new assembly hall connecting the two existing buildings; installation of solar panels, solar hot water heater, energy efficient lighting, and low flow plumbing fixtures; installation of additional air-conditioning to the remainder of the administration building; construction of new single bay maintenance building, unheated storage building, and break area gazebo.