Northwest Missouri Armories undergo change - grows, gains new tenants

By Jennifer Archdekin
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

LEXINGTON - Historic Lexington is slated to gain a one-star general to its armory while standing up a battalion headquarters as well. Brig. Gen. David Irwin, 35th Infantry Division's Deputy Commanding General (Support) will officially set up shop by Oct. 1.

"To actually get a brigadier general in Lexington is monumental," said Lt. Col. Daniel Frickenschmidt, 35th ID administrative officer. "To add a battalion headquarters here has doubled the footprint of the Missouri Guard back in Lexington. Lexington hasn't had a presence like this here for over five years. It's a win-win for the division and ultimately for Missouri."

There will be six additional fulltime jobs added to the Lexington armory. Frickenschmidt hopes it will increase community awareness and shine the spotlight on historic Lexington.

"Congressman Skelton was instrumental in establishing for the first time ever a one-star billet in Lexington," said Frickenschmidt. "This is big for the community in Lexington and the west side of Missouri. This will double the number of troops in Lexington."

Frickenschmidt said Brig. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, Missouri National Guard adjutant general, has a very clear vision to strengthen participation of the 35th ID.

"The number one concern for division troops is that they be well stationed and well led," said Frickenschmidt.

Other changes within the 35th ID reach as far as St. Joseph, Tiffany Springs and Kansas City.

In February, Danner and Skelton announced the Missouri National Guard will close its Tiffany Springs armory and move two units to the Mayes Memorial National Guard Armory in St. Joseph. Tiffany Springs currently houses Det. 1, 35th ID and Det. 1, Tactical Command Post, 35th ID.

In addition to this move, Company A, 35th Special Troops Battalion from the Kansas City armory will also head north to St. Joseph.

With the addition of the new units to St. Joseph, Headquarters Battalion, 35th Special Troops Battalion and Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 35th Special Troops Battalion will be relocated in Lexington.

These moves are not only physical, but also administrative. The 35th STB, along with their units, will no longer be part of the 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Kansas City and will soon report directly to the 35th Infantry Division and the State of Missouri. The 35th STB will officially separate from the 110th MEB Oct. 1.

Frickenschmidt said the consolidation of four facilities into two will be a 50 percent reduction in space allocation. By decreasing the facilities it will allow the 35th ID to be more streamlined.

"It's just that simple," said Frickenschmidt. "We're not going to be spread out, so we can work more closely with our companies and focus attention on the mission essentials."

The financial benefits are also a key motivator in the closing of the Tiffany Springs armory.

"I think it was less politics and more common sense," said Frickenschmidt. "With budgets and lean years ahead of us, it is fiscally responsible. Gen. Danner's recognition of this was insightful and forward looking. I believe it's this kind of leadership that we need in today's economy."

By giving up its lease on the Tiffany Springs armory, the Missouri National Guard will save money on items such as rent, utilities and information management.

"The most significant cost avoidance, or savings, is the termination of a $200,000 plus per-year-lease cost," said Lt. Col. Brent A. Beckley, director of facilities for the Missouri National Guard. "This is a direct savings of federally funded leasing dollars."

Beckley went on to say that this consolidation more efficiently utilizes the National Guard's existing facilities.

"While the leased space has served the Missouri National Guard well, it only provided a minimum amount of space which presented some negative impacts to the unit's ability to operate."

The change does mean that the 35th ID will lose about 100 Guardsmen, putting their end-strength at 415 Soldiers. However, the 100 troops leaving will remain in the Missouri National Guard elsewhere, mostly in logistics and maintenance areas according to Frickenschmidt.

Frickenschmidt said there will hopefully be gain in St. Joseph as well, though there are no significant changes in personnel numbers at the St. Joseph armory.

The 35th ID is headquartered in Leavenworth, Kan. and has elements in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Illinois.

"We now have a footprint in Leavenworth, Lexington and St. Joseph," said Frickenschmidt. "This is the start. We're always looking at expanding our footprint."

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.