$28.2M Letterkenny project first in Army's modernization plan
Millions of dollars will be pumped into U.S. Army installations to modernize key systems and facilities, starting with a $28.2 million shipping and receiving center at Letterkenny Army Depot from which guided missile systems will be sent to U.S military sites and allies around the world.
The 50,000-square-foot shipping and receiving facility on the campus north of Chambersburg is the first project in the Army's 15-year modernization plan, according to a news release from Letterkenny. It will play a critical role in the supply chain for future modernization efforts, in addition to making Lettekenny's shipping and receiving process more efficient.
Construction should be completed early next year.
Officials from the Army Material Command, U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers attended a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday hosted by Col. Donald Santillo, LEAD commander.
“I’m grateful for the support of our senior leadership as we commemorate one of Letterkenny’s contributions to the Army’s Organic Industrial Base Modernization Implementation Plan,” Santillo said, per the news release. “This ongoing 15-year effort will more closely align the Organic Industrial Base to industry and elevate depot efficiency while increasing our surge capacity.”
The new facility will bring all of the depot's shipping and receiving work, now spread across five buildings, under one roof.
Part of Letterkenny's Directorate of Supply and Transportation, the new facility will enhance supply management operations and support essential operations to optimize readiness, according to the news release.
“The new facility implements the relocation of receipt, processing and induction operations,” said Jeremy Crouse, deputy director, DS&T, LEAD. “This facility is essential to the safe and efficient staging, loading and offloading of assets and components that comprise PATRIOT battalions, Avenger and Sentinel batteries, and weapon systems throughout the Air and Missile Defense community.”
The improvements in logistics and efficiency will have far-reaching positive impacts.
“The new facility will serve as a staging area for the materials that support sustainment across the joint force for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems and Navy Electronic Warfare Systems,” said Kate Williams, director of Strategic Management, in the news release. “The upgraded facility will feed the production lines charged with improving the readiness of wheeled vehicles and power generation fleets as well as battlefield multipliers such as troop feeding, refrigeration, troop morale areas and chapels.”
Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: U.S. Army kicks off facilities modernization plan in Franklin County
