In honor of Veterans Day celebrations, Fort Lupton Chamber of Commerce members went Army last week, gearing up for their November luncheon.
Hosted by the 157th Artillery Regiment, Colorado National Guard, the luncheon featured a tour of the facilities by Army SFC Charles Carolus, and a display of unit capabilities.
Self-contained, the readiness center features a large common area with kitchen for assembling and messing the troops, multiple high tech classrooms and a computer-based library. When asked where all the books were by Fort Lupton Public and School Library Director Janice Fisher-Giles, Carolus explained, “On the computers. Pretty much anything a soldier needs to know can be found on these computers.”
A fully equipped gym keeps unit members fit, and an laser electronic firing range featuring all of the unit’s small arms weaponry keeps eyes sharp.
“What these are, are actual weapons systems that have been modified to shoot a laser beam on a big screen,” Carolus said. “There are sensors behind the screen, and we can zero the weapons and everything. What this engagement skills trainer allows us to do is save money on ammunition. In today’s economy, we have to be fiscally responsible.”
Between drills, the center supports administration of the unit and recruiting efforts. Currently, the center supports approximately 140 soldiers. A ‘hardened’ facility, the complex is surrounded by a series of walls and earthen berms designed to make a vehicular assault ineffective, blocking or high-centering any wheeled attackers. The windows are all multi-paned and blast resistant, and the structure itself is compartmentalized, so in the event of a catastrophe like an aircraft strike, only that portion suffering a direct hit would be incapacitated, leaving the rest of the facility operational.
“If an aircraft or something did get through and hit the building, just that one portion would be destroyed,” Carolus said.
The unit, located just northeast of Aims Community College on Ninth Street, is always on the lookout for new members. Interested recruits should call SSG Carl Johnson, Colorado National Guard Recruiting and Retention NCO, at 720-250-2481, or email carl.johnson11@us.army.mil.