Missouri Guard uses stimulus funds to increase readiness

The Missouri National Guard is currently working on 21 stimulus-related projects that have brought more than $2.9 million federal dollars into the state.

The projects include work at Camp Clark in Nevada, the Ike Skelton Training Site in Jefferson City, the Aviation Classification and Repair Activity Depot in Springfield, the Kingshighway Readiness Center in St. Louis, and the Guard's training area on Fort Leonard Wood.

"The projects are fantastic," said Brig. Gen. Stephen Danner, adjutant general of the Missouri National Guard. "Not only do they bring federal dollars into our communities at a time when we need it most, but they're increasing our Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen's ability to complete their job at home and abroad."

Lt. Col. Brent Beckley, director of facilities for the Missouri Guard, said the money will go a long way toward increasing Soldier readiness and energy efficiency.

"First focus for this funding was to improve Soldier quality of life at our training site facilities that are supporting units currently undergoing Reserve Component Unit training in preparation for deployment," Beckley said.

"Additional focus was to continue to improve our energy efficiency through heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and lighting energy-related modernization and upgrades."

The use of the money is also in perfect keeping with the spirit of the Recovery Act, which is aimed at creating and saving jobs, jumpstarting the economy and supporting long-term economic growth, Beckley said.

"Contracting agencies can build or continue to employ a skilled labor force to complete the work, suppliers and manufacturers can use this as a means to maintain or improve their business through the manufacture and/or sale of goods or services in support of the project work," Beckley said. "And the soldiers benefit by way of receiving a safe, efficient, and sustainable facility in order to support their training needs." Beckley said the Defense Department established three broad goals with its Recovery Act Funding: to preserve and create jobs, to care for U.S. service members, and to improve Defense Department energy efficiency.

That means some projects already in development before the act was passed could be funded through the Recovery Act.

At Camp Clark, some of the money is being used to bring World War II-era buildings up to current fire protection standards, making them more energy efficient and generally improving the buildings. Four existing barracks that sleep 36 each, will improve energy efficiency and troop comfort. Renovations include new roofs and windows, the installation of an insulated wrap system for the buildings' exteriors, new heating, air conditioning and water heaters with more energy efficient models and installing digital thermostats.

"We are supporting deploying troops in their training at Camp Clark, and anything we can do to make their stay at the training site more comfortable, it's important that we do that," said Terry Havens, plant maintenance engineer for the Missouri National Guard's five training sites.

Similar work is being done at Fort Leonard Wood. Much of the Guard's units on post -- including the Regional Training Institute, 7th Civil Support Team -- are housed in 60 year old barracks. The improvements, the Soldiers say, will help them be more efficient.

"As the National Guard continues along this current transformation from a strategic reserve to an operational force, it becomes paramount that National Guard facilities are well-kept, modernized, adequately sized and equipped, and represent a safe environment in order to allow proper training to occur," Beckley said.