Latest News from MCB Camp Lejeune
Fast food or child care, which comes first?
Lance Cpl. Lia Gamero, Marine Corps Base
While most Americans love fast food, there are some who believe other facilities should be built first. Marine Corps Community Services steps up to settle the disagreement and explain the reason behind how things get built on base.
There is a certain order to the construction of facilities on base, and because most base residents don't work in construction, they may not understand why.
“It sometimes comes up how people don't understand that when there is a child development center needed, it's a (fast-food restaurant) that gets built in a matter of weeks,” said Everett Vaughn, MCCS marketing director.
The process of building something begins with the funds. There are three different categories for funds and activities; non-appropriated funds, public private ventures and Marine Corps military construction.
NAFs are the monies put toward facilities operated by MCCS. This covers the main exchange, snack bars and marts. Every year, each individual installation determines their need for these buildings and submits it in a five year capital construction foundation program.
Through the program, each project is evaluated and the board of directors selects what projects are approved by using established criteria. The selected projects are then sent to a committee for support and finally to Congress for final approval. Once projects are approved and the funds are provided, they go back to base where a construction firm is chosen and construction can begin.
“Depending on the size of the facility, it will be completed in about 15 months to two years later,” said Doris Hardin-Langley, MCCS facilities and maintenance director.
PPVs, unlike NAFs, are not funded by the Marine Corps, so they are built on a different, faster schedule.
MCCS will acquire a cost estimate, approval for the site location and environmental approval. A contractor will then negotiate for set estimates and plans. The package will be sent for congressional approval and, if approved, construction will begin.
“The nice part of a PPV is that once the project is approved, the vendor can start construction immediately,” said Hardin-Langley. “Companies like Dunkin' Donuts and Wendy's already have plans ready, so there's no waiting for funding or building designing. Since most of these companies also have a construction company that builds for them exclusively, the facilities go up much faster than a lot of other buildings.”
It is because of the tedious process for NAF, competing against PPV, that people notice places like fast-food restaurants being built faster and sooner than other facilities that may be needed.
“Hopefully with a little more knowledge, will come a bit of patience and understanding,” said Vaughn.
Lejeune takes home Corps' first energy, environmental design award
Cpl. Jessica L. Martinez, Marine Corps Base
The world is changing and slowly people are beginning to realize the importance of protecting and preserving the environment, and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune is demonstrating that concern.
Recently, the base received the United States Marine Corps' first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver certification for the building of SR-72, Reserve Training Center and Tank Maintenance Facility in the Greater Sandy Run area.
In June, Company F, 4th Tank Battalion, 4th Marine Division moved into the building. The facility supports not only 56 Marines within the company, but nine M1 A1 Abrams tanks and an M-88 Recovery Vehicle.
“Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a rating system for recognizing and certifying facilities,” said Navy Lt. Nate Overtree, assistant public works officer for energy programs aboard the base. “LEED uses a point-scale based on sustainable design, construction and operations of facilities. The rating system is established and regulated by a non-profit organization identified as the United States Green Building Council. The idea of 'sustainability' in a building is that it will minimize the impact to the environment in the way it is placed on a site, the materials used to construct it, and the energy and water usage during occupancy.”
Over the last year, the Department of Navy released a new policy in regards to all new construction and major renovations conducted on Marine Corps installations. These memorandums from the assistant secretary of the Navy Installations and Environment and the commandant of the Marine Corps require that new facilities, at the least, must meet the LEED Silver certification. There are four ratings within the LEED point system: certified, silver, gold and platinum.
“(Camp Lejeune) is the first to complete this,” said Overtree. “It's been expensive and challenging, but it's the best building and the most environmental friendly. This is a very high achievement for Lejeune.”
The benefit of these “green” buildings include, lower energy and water costs, lower waste disposal, lower environmental emissions costs, increased productivity from workers, reduced impacts on the local environment, return on investment primarily generated through energy conservation and lower operations and maintenance costs, said Overtree.
During the building of the facility, several issues are taken into consideration to meet the requirements and increase the points toward the LEED certification, such as sustainability, water efficiency, materials and resources used, indoor environmental air quality and the innovation and design process.
“A lot of good people made this happen, and I think it's great,” said Col. Richard P. Flatau Jr., commanding officer for Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. “It puts us in the leading position to lead by example. It helps make real, something we often talk about. We hear all about LEED and the different levels, and hear about it as though it's something of the future and now it's here. We've proven it can be done. Hopefully that raises the bar for our own staff in planning, but also for the contractors that compete for construction jobs here, now they know it's doable. It really is an honor to be the first base with a LEED Silver facility…once again Camp Lejeune is out in front.”
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