Photo By Joseph Siemandel | Rendering of the Anacortes Armory remodel... read more read more
Subscribe
Nestled in the small harbor town of Anacortes lives one of the smallest facilities in the Washington National Guard inventory, but also maybe one of the most important.
“The Anacortes armory is one of our most critical infrastructures we have in the Washington Army National Guard,” said Brig. Gen. Dan Dent, commanding general of the Washington Army National Guard. “It is our northern most armory just off of Interstate Five and partnered with our field maintenance shop in Sedro-Wooley provides a strategic foot print in Skagit and Whatcom counties.”
For nearly 60 years the 15,000 square foot armory has been home to soldiers of multiple units in the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team. Originally built for a unit of 42 personnel with limited equipment, the location opened in 1963 with 92 infantrymen from 2nd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment. In the 90s and early 2000s, engineers from the 898th Engineer Battalion called the quaint armory off “M” Avenue home. Today more than 150 soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment are stationed there.
“We believe that Anacortes plays a vital role in growing the Guard in Washington and that means upgrading the facility,” said Dent.
The Legislature recently funded the design phase, which will happen in fiscal year 2022, with construction kicking off in fiscal year 2023. The project will restore and modernize the armory, improving the facility's functional areas to include the office, classrooms, kitchen, restrooms, showers, heating and cooling system, electrical system, information technology and facilities infrastructures. It will also bring the facility in compliance with state building codes, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and environmental requirements.
When originally designed and built, female soldiers were not allowed to be in combat arms units. In 2015 the Army changed policies allowing for females in combat arms units. To modernize the facilities, the project will also add approximately 4,000 square feet to include a female locker room, showers and increase the women’s bathroom facilities.
“Improvements to the facility will support the mission of the National Guard and state emergency response actions following catastrophic events including earthquakes, floods and wildfires,” said Eric Trovillo, facility planning and programing manager for the Construction and Facilities Maintenance Office. “This request will extend the useful life of the facility.”
In the past 15 months Guardsmen from the location have been active with the COVID-19 response across the state, provided support to the Seattle Police Department during civil unrest and are currently deployed to Poland in support of a NATO mission in the region.
| Date Taken: | 06.04.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 06.04.2021 11:11 |
| Story ID: | 398153 |
| Location: | CAMP MURRAY, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 573 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Anacortes National Guard Armory to receive major remodel, by Joseph Siemandel, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
