Cumming Readiness Center Nearly Complete

During a recent visit to the nearly complete Cumming Readiness Center (CRC), Rep. Rob Woodall (R, GA-7) along with Cumming Mayor H. Ford Gravitt and City Councilman Rupert Sexton had the opportunity to visit the state of the art facility.

Senior leaders of the Georgia National Guard gave the men an exclusive tour. The CRC, which is expected to open later this year, is located across from the Cumming Aquatic Center off Pilgrim Mill Road.

“The CRC marks the culmination of nearly 10 years of cooperative effort between the Georgia National Guard, the City of Cumming and the State of Georgia,” said Col. Scott Carter, Construction Facilities Management Officer for the Georgia Army National Guard. 

The facility will not only serve the people of North Georgia but will also take advantage of recruiting and retention trends, according to Brigadier Gen. Joseph Jarrard, Assistant Adjutant General, U.S. Army.

“The units that will be located here are largely from North Georgia and this is a perfect location," he said.

The readiness center would also be home to four companies of the 560th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade.

“We will have more than 400 Soldiers stationed out of this facility,” said Lt. Col. Erik Andersen, Executive Officer of the 560th BFSB. “This facility has been designed specifically for the missions of the units that will operate out of the CRC.

The facility maximizes ambient lighting and state of the art environmental controls to minimize utility costs. A massive assembly area serves not only as a drill hall but also as a dining facility where meals procured from the local economy can be prepared for soldiers.

“A premiere fighting force deserves premiere facilities and this facility represents what can happen when the military and community work together," said Gravitt. “We are proud to help our veterans and Guardsmen,” said Gravitt.

In addition to serving the Georgia Guard, the readiness center will be an asset to the community.

“Our armories are available for community use,” said Major General Jim Butterworth, Georgia's Adjutant General. “Georgia Guard facilities are community centers that directly benefit Soldiers, families, and the communities. Having a facility of this caliber in North Georgia means greater response time in the event of an emergency and also positive economic impact to the community.”

First Lt. William Carraway, spokesperson of the Georgia Department of Defense, told Cumming Patch that as with all Guard units, there will be full-time personnel and personnel on "drill status." The latter of which will be present for one weekend per month in furtherance of their training obligations.  

"We would expect the full-time personnel to begin arriving shortly after the beginning of the month as dictated by the final construction wrap-up and those individuals will lead the way in preparing the facility for full occupancy by April," he said.

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