BF readiness center to be closed soon

BONNERS FERRY — In an effort to modernize and realign its facilities with changing demographics and new Department of Defense requirements, the Idaho National Guard plans to end its use of the Bonners Ferry readiness center in the near future.

Although a specific date has not been established, the Idaho National Guard will continue to work with leadership from the community to ensure the building is put to best possible use in the future.

New federal regulations, which include increases to minimum acreage and square footage requirements, will result in new construction and facility closures throughout the state.

“Most Idaho armories — now referred to as readiness centers — currently sit on insufficient acreage without enough space for expansion and will need to close in order to meet the new federal guidelines,” said Col. Thomas Rasmussen of the Idaho National Guard Construction and Facility Management Office.

“When many of the facilities were constructed — some nearly 70 years ago — they were built on lots that, at the time were considered adequate. As our communities have grown, as is the case with Bonners Ferry, the Idaho National Guard is left without sufficient room for expansion.”

The National Guard also conducted demographic studies to determine local recruiting and retention potential in those communities where guard facilities exist. In the case of Bonners Ferry, the study determined that changes in demographics of the surrounding area pose significant challenges to Idaho Army National Guard recruiting and retention efforts.

“Recruiting populations have shifted over the past 50 years to larger regional population centers. In some cases the study found facilities without a single soldier from that community assigned to the readiness center,” Rasmussen said. The Idaho Army National Guard’s facility in Bonners Ferry has been in operation since the 1950’s. Soldiers in this area have been an integral part of the community for more than 60 years. Detachment 1 of C Company Engineers built bridges and completed construction of the local football field, which is named after 1st Sgt. Kenneth Mendenhall, an Idaho Army National Guard NCO assigned to the Bonners Ferry armory from 1961-1981.

“It’s unfortunate we have to close the doors on our Bonners Ferry facility but we’re not closing the doors on our community,” Rasmussen said. ”These new requirements will force us to consolidate, but we will still remain in proximity so we’re able to continue supporting our community in Bonners Ferry as we always have.”

According to current federal guidelines, readiness centers must consist of 15-25 acre parcels with facilities able to accommodate specific storage space, maintain sufficient distances between perimeters and structures and must provide a minimum amount of square footage per soldier.