Training center at Fort Pickett

FORT PICKETT -- The Virginia Army National Guard will break ground tomorrow for a what could eventually be a $55 million training-center complex here.

The project's $25 million first phase includes construction of headquarters and education buildings for the 183rd Regional Training Institute, the state Guard's primary training unit, at the post near Blackstone, the Guard said.

The first-phase construction includes:

In 2008, the 183rd trained about 1,200 soldiers in basic infantry tactics, hand-to-hand combat, military leadership, rappelling, and transportation and military police skills.

If funding is approved, the Guard plans to build a regimental dining hall and three barracks in the project's $30 million second phase, according to Maj. Christopher S. Dunn, the Virginia Guard's construction project manager.

That phase could be completed by October 2012.

"The Virginia RTI consistently gets feedback . . . that our training and trainers [are] truly outstanding," said Lt. Col. Walt Mercer, the Regional Training Institute's commander, "but the one consistent issue we hear is that our classroom and billeting facilities are lacking and antiquated.

"This new, modern facility will resolve this and allow RTI to take our training to the next level of professionalism," Mercer said.

Besides its traditional Guard and Reserve students, the Guard expects to see more active-duty soldiers undergoing schooling at the training institute.

Contact Peter Bacqué at (804) 649-6813 or .