August 9, 2005

By BOB FOWLER
fowlerb@knews.com

OAK RIDGE - Tennessee Army National Guard armories in Oak Ridge and Harriman will be closing soon, officials with the Tennessee National Guard announced Monday.

Targeted for shutdown are the armory at 1790 Oak Ridge Turnpike in Oak Ridge, and the armory at 1670 Oliver Springs Highway in Harriman.

The Oak Ridge unit, built in 1964, houses the 278th Chemical Company. The Harriman armory was also built in 1964 and is the home of Detachment 1, Troop B, 1st Squadron of the 278th Armored Calvary.

Three other armories in Tennessee are also closing and also will be consolidated into other nearby facilities, said National Guard spokesman Sgt. Randy Harris.

Those armories are in Newbern in Dyer County, South Pittsburg in Marion County and Martin in Weakley County, Harris said.

"It's an economics thing," Harris said of the upcoming closures. "We're trying to save taxpayer money. We have buildings not utilized to their fullest extent."

Harris said there are six other armories within 25 miles of Oak Ridge. He said out of the 48 soldiers that drill in the Oak Ridge armory, only five live in Anderson County.

He said the National Guard has been having trouble recruiting National Guard members in Oak Ridge because of the proximity to Clinton and the newer armory there.

"We were competing against ourselves," Harris said.

A similar situation existed in Harriman because there are four other armories within a 25-mile radius.

"Out of the 43 soldiers who drill at the (Harriman) armory, there is one from Roane County," he said.

Harris said the soldiers who train in Oak Ridge and Harriman will relocate to nearby armories.

He said no timetable for the armory shutdowns has been set.

Most of the armories are owned by the state, and state officials will determine the buildings' futures, Harris said.

Bob Fowler, News Sentinel Anderson County editor, may be reached at 865-481-3625.

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