Several officers from the Marine Corps and Navy will participate today in the groundbreaking for a $48.8 million set of buildings for the new Marine Corps Security Force Regiment at Yorktown Naval Weapons Station.
The buildings will serve an additional 800 to 1,000 marines who will be stationed at the base by early 2015. Three U.S. Marine Corps Marine Fleet Anti-Terrorism companies are being consolidated at the marine Corps Security Force Regiment complex that is to be built. The companies are currently stationed in Norfolk and are used globally in antiterrorism and security roles.
In attendance will be Lt. Gen. Richard Tryon, the commanding general of the Marine Corps Forces Command, Maj. Gen. Raymond Fox, the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Forces, Col. James Bright, the commanding officer of the Marine Corps Security Force Regiment and Capt. Lowell Crow, the commanding officer of Yorktown Naval Weapons Station.
YNWS spokesperson Mark Piggott said in September that existing housing on base will be able to handle the families of the Marines who are being relocated to the base. In addition to the new construction — a headquarters, barracks, transportation facility, warehouse and armory — there will be additions to the galley, gymnasium and Naval Exchange.
The buildings were designed with energy efficiency in mind. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are energy efficient, and some of the walls are translucent, maximizing day lighting in the buildings. The roofs of the buildings will also reflect heat.
FAST companies, first established in 1987, are deployed at Naval commands around the world in order to rapidly respond to unforeseen incidents. The platoons are equipped with state-of-the-art weaponry and are trained in areas such as evacuation, close-quarters combat, convoy operations, shipboard operations and specialized security.
