more soldiers headed to 412th|[8/9/06].

The 412th Engineer Command, an Army Reserve unit based in Vicksburg, is growing by about 5,000 soldiers.

The change is to take effect in two phases, one in October and the second a year later, said Maj. Marshall Banks.

The addition of an engineer group based in Montgomery, Ala., will increase the number in the command to more than 11,000 reservists in an area that spans the entire U.S. eastern seaboard and west to Kentucky. It will also mean increased staffing at the 412th’s headquarters at 1265 Porters Chapel Road.

&#8220This move is the first in a series of realignments which are part of the Army Reserve’s transformation, called Army Reserve Command and Control, or ARC2 for short,” a press release said.

About 30 full-time employees, including about 15 military personnel, work at the 412th, Banks said. At full strength, more than 200 people work at the headquarters, Banks added.

&#8220We will have a definite increase in both civilian and military personnel working here on a full-time basis,” Banks said.

The 412th is commanded by Maj. Gen. Robert Williamson.

&#8220The complexity of transforming the 412th ENCOM’s structure to support thousands of USAR soldiers while transforming our warfighting mission to better support the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the Army’s transformation while simultaneously fulfilling our existing global missions is enormous,” he said. &#8220Fortunately the cumulative effort of our exceptional soldiers and civilian employees, supported by well-prepared families and understanding employers, is a powerful synergy that is more equal to the task.”

The 412th provides wartime support in planning and exercises to the U.S. European Command and U.S. Forces Korea and maintains three forward detachments in Germany, Hawaii and Korea, the release says.

&#8220Under ARC2, the 412th ENCOM will additionally provide training and readiness oversight to units and soldiers under three subordinate brigades while still maintaining their go-to-war missions worldwide,” the release says.

&#8220In addition to major regional contingencies the 412th ENCOM continues its current mission of worldwide support to the Global War on Terror with over 70 soldiers deployed around the globe.

&#8220The challenges of transforming while at war while increasing mission load are all part of the ENCOM’s mission of providing responsive superior engineer support anywhere in the world.”