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Camp Williams is preparing to expand, adding extra soldiers, land, and new facilities.
The camp will take on an extra 600 soldiers, creating a new unit over the next couple of years, said Col. Scot Olson, director of facilities and construction for the Utah National Guard. About 2,000 soldiers are stationed at the camp now.
In preparation for that spike, the camp is working with state and federal officials to transfer title of 300 acres of Bureau of Land Management property on the west side of Redwood Road. The land is already within camp boundaries, but transferring jurisdiction of the land will allow the camp to build new facilities over the next decade to deal with an expanding number of soldiers.
The title transfer is expected to be completed sometime this fall, Olson said. Camp Williams consists of 28,000 acres owned by the Utah National Guard, BLM and Army Corps of Engineers.
"The Utah National Guard is growing," Olson said. "We anticipate that eventually there will be a need to increase the training facilities at Camp Williams, and that is a long process. It typically takes eight to 10 years to get federal money for construction of facilities -- that is why we want to start now."
That Camp Williams has been chosen for expansion is a commendation of the ability of local recruiters to meet recruiting goals and re-enlist soldiers, said Maj. Hank McIntire.
"Only certain states were selected," he said. "Meeting our goals makes us more attractive."
The Utah National Guard is also building a new armory in North Salt Lake near the Air Guard base, he said. "Things are moving in a positive direction and terms of our growth and ability to keep soldiers in units and a willingness of them to re-enlist. We are pleased with that." |
