MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO -- A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday to mark the completion of the depot’s new $7.18 million Recruit Clothing Issue Facility.
Brigadier Gen. Angie Salinas, commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and the Western Recruiting Region, was on hand at the event to do the honors of cutting the ribbon for the new facility that will decrease recruit processing time and make work easier for supply Marines.
“I hope everyone else is as ecstatic as I am with the opening of this facility,” said Brig. Gen. Salinas. “The building is state-of-the-art and is a tremendous effort.”
Designed with traditional Spanish Colonial architecture, the 47,360 square-foot facility consolidates five existing depot facilities to one location.
The one-stop-shop has a warehouse, four uniform alteration bays, administration offices for staff members and a lounge where drill instructors can relax while their recruits are being issued their gear.
The project contractor, R. A. Burch Construction Co., Inc., designed the facility to be energy efficient, resource manageable, and to meet requirements for the Uniform Federal Criteria for Anti-Terrorism Force Protection standards.
Made with recycled materials, the building was designed with solar lighting tubes that enhance ambient light throughout the facility and help reduce the need for electrical lighting.
The facility’s roofing system is equipped with a ventilation system and designed to reflect as much light as possible to reduce heat gain to the building.
“This new place is definitely an improvement over our current facility,” said Cpl. Manuel Zamora, a supply administrator who will work in the new facility. “There’s more space and better ventilation, which is a big plus during the hot summer months when we deal with a lot of recruits.”
The request for the project was submitted to Headquarters Marine Corps in 1986, but was not authorized for construction until 2005. After more than 20 years, the facility opens to better accommodate recruits and the Marines who support them.