MORGANTOWN, W.Va — Governor Earl Ray Tomblin addressed National Guard members at the Wednesday ribbon cutting of a new readiness center.
“We are truly honored to have such an outstanding National Guard. Thank you again for answering the call to duty and for serving the Mountain State and our country with honor and respect,” Tomblin said on the stage of the concert auditorium.
In 2012, ground was broken on the 58,000 square foot facility adjacent to the Morgantown Municipal Airport.
Major General James Hoyer, Adjutant General, explained to several dozen in attendance what it took to complete the Monongalia County Army National Guard facility and improve and replace facilities statewide.
In February 2011, Hoyer said the state needed to ante up $10 million to match available federal funding for such projects.
“We have made a huge investment as a state putting state dollars in to be prepared when federal dollars can be drawn down. That’s what’s put us ahead in the nation to have newer facilities,” Hoyer explained.
The Morgantown Readiness Center is headquarters for the WV Army National Guard, 201st Field Artillery and the 249th Army Band.
“It’ll help us with readiness of our units – everything from the artillery battalion to the Army band. The band deploys on state active duty. It’s not like they’re just doing their mission as a band. They have to be ready to go and help take care of the state during a response,” said Hoyer.
About 78 percent of the state’s guard members are either in college or technical school or have obtained degrees and are working public sector jobs.
Without a full military base in West Virginia, Hoyer said the guard is more important than ever.
“I think at no time, whether it was since the formation of the nation or World War II have we relied on the guard more.”
Meanwhile, each branch of the military is utilizing Camp Dawson’s facilities in neighboring Preston County.
“This facility right adjacent with the airport, it gives us the ability to better facilitate those military and inter-agencies customers that are coming in for that,” predicted Hoyer.
Construction of the Morgantown Readiness Center was a $20.5 million dollar project.
It houses the auditorium, a commercial kitchen, practice rooms, a maintenance work bay, storage space and classrooms.
Space can also be rented by business groups or the public.