USARCENT prepares move to Shaw Published Feb. 27, 2009 By Byron T. Brown P.E. USARCENT Operational Engineer FORT MCPHERSON, Ga. -- The U.S. Army Central is currently poised in the center of a nation in transition. The pending relocation to Shaw Air Force Base is one transition that will have some impact on everyone and has been in planning since before BRAC became law. So far the Department of the Army has committed to over $150 million to provide for ARCENT's smooth transition to Shaw by Sept. 15, 2011. The Army identified Fort Gillem and Fort McPherson as high priorities in "A Bill to Make Recommendations to the President under the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990, Final Selection Criteria." These proposals were adopted and became part of the November 2005 legislation commonly known as Base Realignment and Closure or BRAC 2005. Under this legislation all operational functions must stop at these locations not later than September 2011when the posts must transition into a caretaker status until released to the Local Redevelopment Authority. ARCENT began actively planning for BRAC since May 2005 when the first reports identifying a possible relocation were released. Over the years the emphasis on BRAC was overshadowed by pressing mission requirements in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, but behind the scenes, BRAC planning remained vibrant. The planning addressed two interrelated activities. The construction of new facilities for the Soldiers, civilians and family members at Shaw and the logistics required to remain operational while major elements of ARCENT made the physical transition. Several significant construction-related events that support the relocation to Shaw have been completed. The Department of the Army adopted a construction standard for all echelons above brigade, which provides the over-arching requirements for the new headquarters building. ARCENT then completed an internal study of facility requirements or "Charrette" that provided specific details on the operational inter-relationships of the ARCENT organization and how to arrange them in fully mission- capable facilities. These include a new HQ building which will house ARCENT and the Special Troops Battalion, a motor maintenance facility and headquarters, headquarters and headquarters company building that will house the HHC, the ARCENT storage and a troop medical clinic. Construction is scheduled to begin in June 2009 to be complete by July 2011. The Air Force and Fort Jackson will provide most of the base support for ARCENT. They are currently working a residence community initiative package to provide all new family housing at Shaw. Concurrently the assistant chief of staff for installation management transferred BRAC base support funding to the Air Force to build a child development center annex, transient lodging, library addition and a new gym annex next to the new ARCENT HQ. These funds will also be used to design and renovate an unaccompanied personnel housing facility. All facilities are scheduled to be complete before Sept.15, 2011. The logistical planning is less straight forward and involves merging mission requirements with personnel and property movement while sustaining a reasonable quality of life for all those involved. The current plan would use the 4th BCD as the initial advanced party followed in the summer of 2010 by a dedicated ARCENT transition team. The various permanent changes of station options are currently under evaluation to determine the best balance of mission readiness and impact on service members and families. The final decision will be driven by the actual completion of the new headquarters building. A great deal of information is available concerning BRAC. These resources provide information which will help you form reasoned decisions concerning how you will approach the change BRAC will bring to you and your family's life. The Fort McPherson Web site at http://www.mcpherson.army.mil/ has a link that provides garrison level details on their ongoing BRAC related activities. The Sumter community, adjacent to Shaw, has been eagerly awaiting ARCENT's arrival and has established a welcome page on their community web site at http://www.thirdarmysumter.com/. A standing ARCENT working group meets weekly to develop plans and programs to support the move to Shaw. The product of this group effort will be a plan on how ARCENT will address the move to Shaw. Once this plan is approved by the command it will be made available to all ARCENT personnel. Currently BRAC continuity information and the BRAC Smart Book are posted on the ARCENT NIPR common drive at L:\_Shared\OPS\OPL MAN (PLANS)\_BRAC Continuity File. Finally, the ARCENT Command is organizing a town hall meeting in March to provide information and address specific concerns.