House Republican Press Release

April 18, 2007

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Mike Alberts Tours National Guard Facilities

Legislator says state needs to continue upgrading aging armories

State Rep. Mike Alberts, R-50^th, Brooklyn, Eastford, Hampton, Pomfret Woodstock, recently toured Connecticut National Guard facilities with other state leaders and said the state needs to continue upgrading its aging armories which function as statewide training centers.

Rep. Alberts, who is ranking member of the legislature’s Veterans Affairs committee and an Air Force veteran himself, said, “We must ensure that we have the facilities within the state to properly train our National Guard personnel.”

He added, “The last new armory was built 25 years ago. The average age of the state armories is 56 years. We need to be earmarking funds for the construction of two replacement armories every decade, to be on track to have the facilities that are necessary for properly trained personnel.”

Rep. Alberts participated in an all-day tour including the Hartford Armory, the Army Aviation Support Facility and Civil Support Team in Windsor Locks, the Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby, the Southington National Guard Armory and Camp Rell training area in Niantic.

Rep. Alberts said, “With upgraded facilities at Camp Rell, the state has actually reduced the burden on Guard family members who can now count on their Guard members to be trained within the state to a much greater extent.”

“Some renovations have been done over the years, including restoration, modernization and rededication of the 100-year-old Hartford Armory,” said Rep. Alberts. “Most of the needed upgrades will receive federal funding, so the cost to the state will be reduced substantially.”

Rep. Alberts noted the Connecticut National Guard is staffed with 1,200 full-time soldiers and airmen. An additional 100 state Military Department employees are 56 percent federally funded. A total force of 5,000 soldiers and airmen make up the Connecticut National Guard.