The Idaho Army National Guard readiness center at Mountain Home recently underwent a $2.6 million renovation.
The renovation turned an outdated facility into one intended to support the Guard’s training agenda well into the future.
“It is important to reset the useful life of the facility to incorporate future growth and usability of the Idaho Army National Guard,” said Sgt. Jason Tugby, an engineer technician with the Idaho National Guard’s construction facility management office.
The reconstruction began in August of last year and was completed in late July. The armory was originally built in 1952 and houses elements of A Company, 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion.
Approximately 70 Soldiers will train in the new readiness center each month. Soldiers from the battalion’s military intelligence company also drill at the training site, known as Edgemeade.
“It has modern facilities, which will help improve training,” said Sgt. 1st Class Shane Amidon, the unit’s readiness noncommissioned officer.
The training site is large enough to accommodate future expansion and additional Soldiers, as well as provide the necessary capabilities to train and store equipment for deployments.
Major changes include a new mezzanine upstairs with four new classrooms; a reconstruction of latrines, showers, locker rooms, entrances, offices and breakrooms; the installation of a new standing seam metal roof, HVAC systems, insulation, a mass notification fire alarm system and full sprinkler system; and interior and exterior paint.
The Idaho Army National Guard is headquartered in Boise and consist of nearly 3,000 Soldiers. The 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion’s parent unit, the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, is the largest unit in the state with armories in more than 25 Idaho communities.