Maine National Guard hosts ground-breaking for new readiness center

PRESQUE ISLE, ME (11/08/2018) (readMedia)-- Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham, Adjutant General of the Maine National Guard, is pleased to host a ground-breaking ceremony for the new Northern Maine Readiness Center. The new facility will house the approximately 100 Soldiers of the 185th Engineer Support Company (ESC), one of four engineer companies within the 133rd Engineer Battalion which is headquartered in Brunswick, ME. The unit is the only Maine National Guard unit north of Bangor and currently conducts their unit drills out of two locations, one in Houlton and one in Caribou.

The 185th ESC is capable of performing horizontal and vertical engineer missions to include runway/landing zone construction and initial base camp construction/repair. The unit has a long history of performing community construction projects across Maine and has assisted in local flood relief missions in Aroostook County, as well as responding out of state. In 2011, the unit supported road construction efforts in Vermont in the wake of Hurricane Irene. Recent changes in the unit's organization have expanded its personnel to include carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. The new energy efficient facility will be approximately 43,000 square feet and is estimated to be completed in January of 2021.

The 185th ESC is commanded by Capt. Dustin Cook and the unit first sergeant is 1st Sgt. Alpha Williams.

WHO:

Maine National Guard, Devoe Construction, WBRC Architects Engineers, City of Presque Isle
WHAT:

 Ground-breaking ceremony for new Northern Maine Readiness Center
WHEN: Thursday November 15, 2018 at 12:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: 6 Edgemont Dr
Presque Isle, Maine 04740
NOTES:

 Media interested in covering the event should contact Capt. Carl Lamb at (207) 430-5759, or email ng.me.mearng.list.public-affairs@mail.mil no later than 1200pm, Wednesday, November 14th. Media should plan to arrive by 11:45am the day of the ceremony.