Report Refers To Nonexistent Armory—

Armed Forces Considering Military Facility In Newtown

By Andrew Gorosko

In view of the US Department of Defense’s 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations disclosed last week, the federal government is considering creating a military installation in Newtown that would provide training facilities for military reservist units, and possibly members of the Connecticut National Guard.

The BRAC document recommends that an Armed Forces Reserve Center be created in Newtown.

The document suggests that existing reserve centers in Danbury, Waterbury, and Fairfield be closed and be relocated to a new reserve center and maintenance facility in Newtown.

The document states that such relocation would be contingent on whether “the Army is able to acquire land suitable for the construction of the facilities adjacent to the existing Connecticut Army National Guard Armory in Newtown.”

There is no such armory in Newtown. Several years ago, the National Guard had considered converting an existing state-owned building at Fairfield Hills for use as an armory, but later dropped those plans after determining that the project would not be practical. The building that was under consideration is located near Reed Intermediate School.

At Fairfield Hills, both the Governor’s Horse Guard, 2nd Company, and a military dog kennel, which is under construction, are attached to the National Guard.

The reserve center envisioned for Newtown would have the ability to accommodate military units from Army National Guard armories in Naugatuck, New Haven, and Norwalk, according to the BRAC document.

Locating a military facility in Newtown would enhance military value, improve homeland defense capability, improve training and deployment capability, improve efficiency, and reduce costs, according to BRAC.

Linda Jeleniewski, a spokeswoman for the US Army Reserve in Devens, Mass, said that the recommended changes are subject to review and approval by the government.

The BRAC document’s erroneous reference to an existing armory in Newtown will be reviewed, she said.

Implementation of the recommended changes would be several years in the future, she said. Applicable law would require the changes to be completed by late 2011.

Lieutenant Colonel John Whitford, a spokesman for the Connecticut National Guard, said the guard is still assessing the content of the BRAC document. The implications are unclear, he said. “It’s still in the early stages. We don’t know how all this is going to play out…There’s nothing clear and concise at this point in time.”

Asked about the prospect of military installation in Newtown, First Selectman Herbert Rosenthal said, “I’d reserve comment until I see the plan.”

The first selectman said there are many questions that he would have about the presence of a military facility in Newtown. Without knowing the details, it is unclear whether such a facility would be good or bad for the town, he said.

“It’s so hypothetical,” he said.

The BRAC document also includes the recommendation that the US Navy’s submarine base in Groton be closed and its troops be assigned elsewhere.