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New buildings to house military units

A $15 million project will move two Guard, Army Reserve units to Springfield Air National Guard Base

Sgt. Maj. Brian Roeth, describes the layout of the new Armed Forces Reserve Center and Field Maintenance Shop Monday following a ground breaking for the new facility at the Springfield Air National Guard Base. Staff photo by Bill Lackey

Bill Lackey Sgt. Maj. Brian Roeth, describes the layout of the new Armed Forces Reserve Center and Field Maintenance Shop Monday following a ground breaking for the new facility at the Springfield Air National Guard Base. Staff photo by Bill Lackey

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By Samantha Sommer, Staff Writer Updated 6:56 AM Tuesday, May 12, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — The Ohio National Guard broke ground Monday, May 11, both on two new buildings and for the future of the Springfield Air National Guard Base.

A $15 million project will move two Guard and an Army Reserve units to the base as part of the Base Realignment and Closure process.

The move also should help protect the base from future BRAC rounds, said Maj. Gen. Gregory Wayt, adjutant general of the Ohio National Guard.

“Most of us don’t like the term BRAC,” he said. “But this truly is a positive story about the last Base Realignment and Closure ... Hopefully we’ve BRAC-proofed the Springfield Air National Guard Base.”

The BRAC process will pay for the two new buildings, including a nearly 35,000-square-foot Armed Forces Reserve Center that will house about 200 people in two Guard units — Headquarters and Headquarters Co. and Company C, both of the Special Troops Battalion, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat.

About a dozen members of the Army Reserve Area Maintenance Support Activities No. 58 also will occupy a new 19,000-square-foot Field Maintenance Shop and share space with the Guard units.

HHC and Company C currently are based out of aging buildings on Laybourne Road near the fairgrounds and the AMSA unit is at the Downs Army Reserve Center on West High Street.

Buildings in the Ohio National Guard average 44 years old, Wayt said.

“This is just one example of how we’re going to lower that age and, in fact, build better facilities for our deserving soldiers in the Ohio National Guard,” he said.

The two buildings should open next spring.

Sharing space and resources is an efficient use of taxpayers’ dollars, Wayt said, and will maintain jobs in Springfield.

State Rep. Ross McGregor, R-Springfield, agreed.

“We’re insulating against future BRAC,” he said. “Just like you don’t want heat to escape your house, we don’t want these jobs to escape Springfield.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0363 or ssommer@coxohio.com.

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