Southwest Missouri Guard installations part of statewide revitalization project

Friday, January 30, 2009

JOPLIN, Mo. -- The Missouri Army National Guard's statewide revitalization project is allowing for some much needed renovations and expansions at southwest Missouri military installations.

What most residents traditionally think of as armories, the state now calls "readiness centers."

"These facilities mean more to most communities than just an armory," said Lt. Col. Brent Beckley, Missouri Guard construction and facilities management officer. "They are important components to readiness. They are the flag that everyone rallies around in times of emergency at home."

For example, Beckley noted, the Lamar readiness center, which is home to a detachment from Company A of the 311th Aviation Support Battalion, served as a warming center for community members after the 2007 ice storms knocked out electricity throughout. Like any emergency shelter, the facility was used as a safe-haven, providing hot meals and distributing emergency supplies to those in need.

To better meet that mission, the Missouri Guard is renovating and expanding many of southwest Missouri armories to include fully-operable kitchens and improved restroom facilities. Among them, armories in Carthage and Nevada, home-stations to the 203rd Engineer Battalion's 294th Engineer Company and the 311th's A Co., respectively, have undergone complete overhauls in these areas, as well as foyer and office-space improvements. While the Carthage armory is near complete, work in Nevada is currently just getting under way.

In addition to improving emergency readiness at the armories, many of the facilities are on the list for improvements due to age. Statewide, the Missouri Guard operates 63 readiness centers in 57 communities, 18 field-terrain vehicle and aviation repair shops and five training sites. There are eight armories in southwest Missouri, west of Springfield, and two training sites, including Camp Crowder in Neosho and Camp Clark in Nevada.

"The average age of these facilities is 38 and a half years," Beckley said. "Their construction dates range from the late 1800s to present."

Ideally, Beckley said the state would build new facilities to replace aging structures, but cost often prohibits this. Instead, through predominantly 50/50 matching funds from the state and federal government, the Missouri Guard is working to upgrade existing facilities for safety, practicality and energy consciousness.

"The goal is to make sure all facilities provide a safe environment for work and training, and to ensure they are energy efficient," Beckley said.

Joplin's armory, home of the 203rd Headquarters Company, is slated for a complete interior renovation this spring, from floors to ceilings, windows and doors, to electrical and heating improvements. Other projects planned in 2009 in southwest Missouri include a parking lot expansion at the Nevada armory, home-station to the 203rd's 117th Asphalt Team and the 1/138th Infantry Regiment's D Co., and the construction of a two-level loading dock at Camp Crowder.

"These facilities are a key component to the Army National Guard, and they are a critical piece of infrastructure to the communities they support," Beckley said. "The Missouri National Guard is working to make improvements to ensure we are ready to support our residents when they need us."

For more information about the Missouri National Guard call 1-888-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com

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