News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Tennessee State Building Commission has a approved plans for a new National Guard Armory in Warren County.
Major General Max Haston said it’s taken more than 60 years, but soldiers assigned to the 278th Armored Cavalry F Troop will soon have a new home.
“It’s a big deal because military construction dollars have been very thing for the last 20 to 25 years, so new construction of facilities have not been as plentiful as they once were,” Haston said. It’s the second oldest armory in Tennessee. McMinnville has never had an upgrade and it was just due.”
Haston said the oldest armory in the state is in Rockwood, which recently underwent a significant upgrade.
The new 35,000 square foot armory will be built on 23 acres along Manchester Highway between McMinnville and Morrison. The design phase will begin this fall and construction will start in late 2020.
Haston said the surrounding community will benefit from knowing the Tennessee National Guard will remain a fixture in Warren County for generations to come.
“Our armories across the state belong to the state of Tennessee. We use them for emergency disasters, voting precincts, local events, and commodity distributions,” Haston said. “We want it to be a hub of the community.”
The future facility will include all necessary parking spaces for personnel and tactical equipment, and modern vehicle maintenance bays. Soldiers will also be able to conduct home-station training in classrooms and other spaces specially designed to support the latest requirements.
