By Sgt. Lolita E. Brown
318th Public Affairs Operations Center

JOLIET, Ill. — As the Army Reserve moves toward the new wave of the future, there are many innovative developments continuously being added. One of these developments is the opening of Joliet Army Reserve Training Center in Elwood, Ill., April 14, 2012.

The facility is unique because it is “green” in structure and concept.

“Eighty to 90 percent of the electric load of the facility is being self-generated through solar panels,” said Darrell Chambers, building project manager. Adding, “The future goal is to develop more ‘green’ facilities Army-wide.”

Chambers, a member of the 88th Regional Support Command, said the panels are specifically designed to produce 150,000 watt hours of electricity per year. The project is part of an Army program to achieve “Net Zero” of local power consumption, to become essentially energy self-sufficient.

The $36 million facility is the largest local training center in the area,” said Major Gen. Glenn Lesniak, 88th RSC commander. About 600 soldiers will work in the 60,000-square-foot facility. The 470th Movement Control Battalion and the 459th Transportation Company are a part of this transition. It is fully equipped with state of the art classrooms, physical training room, small-weapons simulator, conference rooms, a drill hall and a full-size kitchen. The facility is self contained because of the training support is available to include: basic marksmanship, field training and a bridge site to practice convoys.

There are benefits of a facility which collates the entire battalion at one location, said Lesniak.

“Not only can soldiers drill together, but train together and the opportunity for senior enlisted to get involved in mentoring our junior enlisted,” said Command Sgt. Major Michael B. Koszuta, 88th RSC’s command sergeant major.

Maj. Joseph Karius, 470th MCB commander, said, “with bringing soldiers into a new building it will help the soldier to take pride in what they are doing and also build morale.

Connected Media