By Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs
EDINBURGH, Ind. – A groundbreaking ceremony was held at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ind., to begin new construction north of Hospital Rd., July 3. A 57 million dollar project that will again revitalize portions of the original cantonment area built between 1942 and 1943.
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, the Indiana National Guard, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Indiana Department of Correction signed an agreement releasing more than 1,200 acres of DNR land north of Camp Atterbury in exchange for approximately 2,000 acres at Putnamville Correctional Facility in October 2010. The land was part of the original Camp Atterbury built in 1942 and sold to U.S. Fish and Wildlife when to post was deactivated in 1969.
The expansion will be used for additional support facilities, increased bed space and dining facility for Soldiers training at Camp Atterbury. In addition, plans still remain in place to expand the railroad capability of Camp Atterbury to meet its mission requirements in the near future.
The official ground breaking marks the beginning of a two-phase construction project and building of two battalion-level Operational Readiness Training Complexes as part of the agreement made in late 2010. Construction will begin this July and completed by summer of 2014.
Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, Adjutant General for the Indiana National Guard, said the new facilities would increase Camp Atterbury’s ability to meet its mission.
“This is an historic day for Camp Atterbury, once again to have the property north of Hospital Road. We just broke ground to build about 1,160-man barracks, a dining facility and the beginning of what used to be the cantonment area for Camp Atterbury in World War II.”
In addition to the ground breaking, the section of Eggleston Street, which runs north-south in front of where the new buildings are to be constructed was renamed Steven Chancellor Street, in honor of the man who was instrumental in the land exchange, Stephen Chancellor, CEO of the American Patriot Group and chairman of AmeriQual Group.
Chancellor insists that his role was a minor part of the process.
“The Indiana National Guard, the U.S. Army and the State of Indiana had been in a process for about six years to get U.S. Fish and Wildlife to release this property back to the military, which is where it came from originally,” said Chancellor.
Chancellor said Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels approached him to ask his advice in the land exchange because of his work with conservation groups and relationship with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service.
“I knew those people (at U.S. Fish and Wildlife) quite well; I’ve helped them many times,” he said. “My role was not that big; I just kept nudging people along and in about six month’s time, they had it done. They got a new 2,000 acre Fish and Wildlife area in Putnam County as a result of it. They got new jobs here; they’re going to have more training here. It was always a win-win for everyone. I do what I can to try and help. It’s an honor to work with the U.S. military and it’s a greater honor to help.”
While Chancellor said his contribution was modest, Umbarger said.
“He served as a catalyst to move the land exchange between state and federal agencies forward to conclusion,” said Umbarger. “It was with this vision and in keeping with his long history of giving back to the community and Indiana; that Stephen Chancellor stepped forward and offered his help.”
Ivan Denton, garrison commander at Camp Atterbury, said the new facilities will allow for increased capacity and capability at Camp Atterbury as it fulfills a variety of missions.
“It’s a very important day,” said Denton. “It’s an installation that continues to be a world-class installation. In order for an installation to continue to be world-class, it has to have two things: bed space and maneuver space. This is key as we go from 5,100 beds to 6,300 beds, overall.”
“It’s just a great day for Camp Atterbury, Indiana and our nation,” said Umbarger.
By Staff Sgt. David Bruce, Atterbury-Muscatatuck Public Affairs