FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa.- Fort Indiantown Gap finished first out of 48 National Guard training centers located throughout the continental U.S. and Puerto Rico with the most training mandays for fiscal year 2016.
This marks the second year in a row that the installation has been the busiest National Guard training center in the nation.
The installation trained more than 120,000 service members, federal, state, local and international personnel, and had more than 740,000 man-days. A man-day is equal to one person training for one day. To illustrate, one person training on the installation for 14 days would be equal to 14 man-days, whereas two people training on the installation for 14 days would be equal to 28 man-days.
Garrison commander Col. Robert Hepner reflects on the busy year. "We once again were able to maintain the highest operational tempo in the nation for a National Guard training center. My staff made it possible. I could not be more proud."
Range Operations
At the core of the installation'ss function as a training installation is its range operations including the simulations and range complex. All personnel training here must complete training request forms as well as coordinate for training areas which fall under range operations.
The Directorate completed several new ranges to assist in the training. Ranges 18, 18A and 19 make up a complex to qualify Soldiers on hand grenades and M18 Claymore mines.
"What's great about this range, in addition to the new capability that it offers those training here, is that we made this new range by repurposing an under-utilized range," said Capt. Toby Angove, the range operations officer for the installation. "That saves money, as well as reduces our military footprint, as we did not have to 'break ground' for another range."
Range operations added capabilities to Range 35, allowing it to be able to be used for both heavy and light machine gun fire. "We placed new, steel targets on Range 35 and are emplacing electronic targets the will enable our Soldiers to use Range 35 for familiarization and qualification with their .50-caliber and 40 mm weapons systems," explained Angove.
Additional projects included: installing additional cameras on ranges for safety and security of those training here, completion of a new obstacle course, and Range 11 and 5A berm enhancements.
Fort Indiantown Gap's simulations section provided training to more than 32,000 people this training year. Additionally, the section is part of a project through National Guard Bureau to build and field the remote weapons system table top gunnery trainer. The device was fielded in the fall of 2014.
"It was a great year," said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Domalski, the simulations noncommissioned officer in charge. "In addition, we are working to add training capabilities via a driver's cab. This project piqued the interest of the Department of the Army which is now looking into making this device a program of record device."
Finally, the section had an opportunity to interact with Service members from Pennsylvania's state partner, Lithuania. "We were able to sit down with representatives from their armed forces and share best range management practices," said Angove. "It was refreshing to see they face many of the challenges we do here including concerns of encroachment and practicing good land management."
Maintenance
Maintaining Fort Indiantown Gap's more than 700 buildings and miles of roads is the responsibility of Bureau of Reservation Maintenance staff. The staff is made up of a variety of skilled craftsman and maintenance workers. The employees stayed busy during the training year, completing more than 16,500 work requests to support those training.
"We were able to implement a variety of projects this year to improve the facility for those training here. We supported the training with trail upgrades, implemented energy saving measures by converting buildings from oil to natural gas, and assisted in keeping the installation cleared from snow during Winter Storm Jonas," said Christopher McDevitt, the director of the Bureau of Reservation Maintenance.
In addition to maintaining the facilities, construction projects were completed to improve the installation and repair infrastructure. "We managed 14 construction projects totaling more than $9 million. These projects included critical base infrastructure items such as berm enhancements, range operations buildings, communication huts, obstacle courses and water tower repairs," said Lt. Col. Daneen Hutton, the director of public works.
The public works staff is already completing scopes of work for the upcoming year's projects.
Logistics
The logistics section, which manages the post warehouse, ammunition supply point, billeting and supply and services, as well as the installation property book, was busy supporting the training. "We issued more than 12.5 million rounds of ammunition worth more than $16 million," said Maj. Alan McCord, the supply officer for the installation. "We also completed a safety review successfully with zero non-compliance findings."
Rounding out the section's accomplishments included items such as kitchen upgrades, a 100% inventory of all equipment, and upgrading vehicle authorizations for the non-tactical fleet.
Billeting had a busy year. In addition to their normal workload, they facilitated a total of 2,800 additional customers during the warfighter. The office completed many upgrades including: replacing all the mattresses in the barracks, renovating 115 chargeable transient quarters rooms, installing Wi-Fi post-wide, and upgrading the cable TV system. The section will continue to renovate the administrative buildings and mess halls as well as upgrade many other amenities in 2017.
"Moving into 2017, we will continue to strive to provide the best service possible-enhancing your training experience at Fort Indiantown Gap," said 1st Sgt. Randy Lehman, the facility operations manager for billeting.
Morale, welfare and recreation
Improvements to the Blue Mountain Sports Arena included new treadmills, bikes, elliptical machines and weights, along with new bleachers and racquetball lighting. "This year our pool [open to the public] had more than 10,500 customers," said Mike Puzauskie, Director of Morale, Welfare and Recreation for the installation. "That's 2,000 more than last year."
Additionally, it hosted the All Army's men and women's taekwondo, men's volleyball, women's basketball and women's softball camps. They also opened the championship caliber ballfields for intramural and recreational use.
Police
The Fort Indiantown Gap Police Force provided support, security and law enforcement for more than 4,400 incidents in the last year. The police force patrols approximately 50 square miles, 724 buildings, 61 miles of paved roads, and 121 miles of trails. Last year saw technological growth with equipment upgrades including four Dodge Ram pickups, a Ford Interceptor SUV, patrol rifles, radio upgrades, gunshot trauma kits and body cameras. Several officers attended instructor training courses in firearms, active shooter response, and non-lethal weapons.
Additionally, the Fort Indiantown Gap Police Force joined other county and state police agencies in carrying the drug Naloxone. Naloxone can be injected or sprayed in the nose, and is highly successful in reversing heroin overdoses.
Chief Jon B. Worley explained, "As police officers we are frequently the first on the scene of medical calls. Naloxone and the automated external defibrillator carried by our police officers are just some of the tools to help us give quicker life-saving treatment before emergency medical technicians arrive."
Fire department
Fort Indiantown Gap Fire and Emergency Services responded to 452 incidents during fiscal year 2016. Those incidents included airfield, structural, wildland, hazardous materials and emergency medical. Fort Indiantown Gap Fire and Emergency Services provided assistance to 13 surrounding municipalities on 119 incidents.
This year the vehicles were inspected by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for emergency medical services licensure of the quick response units. Three vehicles are now licensed as quick response units. This capability allows the fire department a greater flexibility in response. Additionally, if it's necessary to use the reserve equipment it will meet the Pennsylvania Department of Health standards.
"I am very proud of the hard work of the members of the department in achieving this accomplishment," said Chief Donald Wilson.
Public affairs and community outreach
Deputy Base Operations Manager David Weisnicht continued the installation's efforts in community outreach. "I enjoy attending the local municipal meetings and working groups along with our fellow community members," said Weisnicht. Additionally, he continued to spearhead the installation's Army Compatible Use Buffer program. The program is intended to help facilitate land preservation efforts in order to alleviate encroachment on the installation.
The installation's public affairs office launched a new community information channel on local television cable. The channel provides updates to those residing on the installation as well as nearby residents viewing the local channel.
The office continued to supports the installation with an active Facebook page, community information line, FLICKR page, and DVIDS news service, as well as responding to more than 100 public inquiries.
In February 2016 the office was notified that it won first place out of 54 states and territories in the National Guard Bureau Media Contest in 2015 for Outstanding Digital Presence for Fort Indiantown Gap. This award recognizes the overall excellence of the official digital presence of Army organizations.
"I'm ecstatic that my office won this award," said Maj. Angela King-Sweigart, public affairs officer. "Our office works hard to maintain an active digital footprint and communicate all the good things we do on the installation every day to both our internal and external publics."
Visits
The installation hosted a variety of visitors in 2016 including: Rep. Charlie Dent, the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; Honorable Katherine Hammack, the assistant secretary of the U.S. Army (Installations, Energy and Environment); Command Sgt. Maj. Brunk Conely, the 10th sergeant major of the Army National Guard; Dale Barnett, the commander of the American Legion and Michael Stelacio, Pennsylvania American Legion state commander; Donna K. Mills, the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary department president and Colette Bishop, the national president of the VFW Auxiliary; Lt. Gen. Jonas Vytautas Zukas, Lithuania's chief of defense, and Rolandas Krisciunas, the Lithuanian ambassador to the U.S. The installation also hosted several civic leaders meetings and local elected official roundtables.
In addition to the above visits, the installation established a temporary joint visitors bureau during the warfighter exercise. During the exercise, the bureau assisted with more than 20 visits, including hosting Lt. Gen. Timothy Kadavy, director of the Army National Guard.
"Showcasing everything we do here to distinguished visitors is important. Keeping elected officials, international partners and Department of Defense personnel informed of our mission is vital, and nothing replaces a firsthand glimpse of what we do," said Hepner.
Installation Projects
The installation completed several key projects during the year including: hosting its first division-level warfighter exercise, completing a conservation easement with Capitol Region Water and the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation, beginning the implementation of an access control plan, ranger and sapper assessment course, opening the Fort Indiantown Gap USO, hosting the annual March for the Fallen, launching the online hunting registration website iSportsman, the annual tree-lighting and hosting regal fritillary butterfly habitat tours.
"Looking back on 2016 it was a great year - busy, but great. I'm thankful to all of those who made it possible and look forward to continued success this year," said Hepner.