Illnios Army National Guard Cuts Ribbon on New Readiness Center

Related Media

Officials with the Illinois National Guard and the community of Shiloh cut the red ribbon marking the official opening the the Mid-America Readiness Center Oct. 23 in Shiloh.

SHILOH, IL (10/23/2010)(readMedia)-- The Illinois National Guard, the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and community officials cut the ribbon on the Mid-America Readiness Center Oct. 23 in Shiloh, marking the official opening of the Illinois Guard's newest facility.

The center is the new home to the 445th Chemical Company, a unit added to Illinois National Guard in 2006. The unit was originally based in the East St. Louis area.

The Illinois National Guard was appropriated the $10 million budget from the National Guard Bureau to establish a new armory. The building project took roughly two years from concept to completion. The construction involved roughly 12 contractors who worked with the Illinois National Guard to make this building fully operational.

Shiloh was selected as strategic area close to the second largest metropolitan area in Illinois and ongoing Army and Air Force operations at Scott Air Force Base.

As the Guard grew and the homeland security mission became a priority the 445th Chemical Company was added to the Illinois Army National Guard in 2006, said Maj. Gen. William Enyart of Belleville the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. To add to the Illinois National Guard's readiness and aid its communities, it was decided to have a unit base in Shiloh in order to develop the presence of the Illinois National Guard in case of an emergency, said Enyart.

"We wanted to put Soldiers here, where they can help out," said Enyart. "Soldiers near the Mississippi River where we have floods; Soldiers near the New Madrid Fault Zone, where the potential exists for a very severe earthquake."

The Illinois National Guard has worked with the Shiloh community for years, said Enyart. The mid-America St. Louis Airport has supported the Illinois Air National Guard with runways able to accommodate the landing and takeoff needs of the KC-135 Stratotanker, said Enyart.

With the military presence from the full-time and part-time Soldier, the center offers a means to bring more money into the local businesses and restaurants, said Enyart.

"Not only is this facility a good facility for national defense, it's a good facility for homeland defense and it's a good facility to help in a natural distance, it's also an economic driver for this community," said Enyart.