Courtesy Photo | North Dakota National Guard Soldiers, Valley City community leaders and other elected...... read more read more
VALLEY CITY, N.D. — The Valley City-based 231st Brigade Support Battalion (231st BSB) now will have a new home to provide maintenance support for its inventory of combat and tactical vehicles. North Dakota National Guard leaders along with elected officials today broke ground for a new vehicle maintenance shop and unheated enclosed vehicle storage facility to support unit maintenance operations and training. The $12 million project is expected to be complete by July 2017.
Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley, Sen. John Hoeven, Valley City Mayor Bob Werkhoven, Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, and other community leaders pitched the first mounds of dirt using ceremonial shovels at the site of the new buildings, signifying the official start of the project’s construction.
“The addition of this new vehicle maintenance shop will enhance the North Dakota National Guard’s ability to provide more effective, efficient, and responsive maintenance for larger equipment,” Wrigley said. “I’m proud of the collaboration that took place between local, state, and federal agencies to make this facility a reality.”
As a result of force structure changes in 2008, the 231st BSB — which supports two engineer detachments — added Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks with Palletized Load Systems and accompanying oversized equipment to its inventory. The current maintenance shop, which is located in an area near the Valley City Airport, was not suitable for expansion to house this equipment. Built in 1960, the building has only 3,230 square feet of floor space to for the unit’s 175 vehicles, while the 231st BSBs new buildings will encompass more than 45,000 square feet.
"The men and women of North Dakota's National Guard are dedicated to service and keeping us safe," Hoeven said. "When disaster strikes or the nation calls, we count on them to be there for us, so we need to give them the tools they need to do their job. This new maintenance shop will be a big help to them."
About 14 unit maintenance personnel will work at the new buildings upon completion.
“With the construction of these new facilities, our Soldiers will receive much-needed space for maintenance operations and training, allowing them to complete their missions effectively and safety,” Sprynczynatyk said.
The facilities are designed for a minimum 50-year life span and include the latest technology in energy efficiencies in accordance with the Department of Defense’s Unified Facilities Code.
“The N.D. National Guard has long enjoyed tremendous support from the citizens of Valley City, and we look forward to continue to serve here for years to come,” Sprynczynatyk added. “The partnership between this community and the Guard is over 130 years old.”
The N.D. National Guard’s presence within the Valley City community dates back to 1884 when Company G, 1st Dakota Volunteers of the Dakota Territory first mustered there. As North Dakota entered statehood in 1889, the unit became the 1st North Dakota Infantry Regiment and later was designated as Company G, 164th Infantry Regiment in 1917. Under the moniker, Soldiers from the unit served in France during World War I and the Pacific Theater in World War II. In 1955, it was renamed again as the 141st Engineer Combat Battalion, of which the unit was known until 2008 when it transformed into the 231st Brigade Support Battalion.
| Date Taken: | 06.30.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2015 21:58 |
| Story ID: | 168723 |
| Location: | VALLEY CITY, ND, US |
| Web Views: | 58 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Construction to begin on North Dakota Guard Maintenance Facility in Valley City, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT