Staff Sgt. Michael Needham / U.S. Army National GuardSoldiers from the Mississippi Army National Guard remove the colors from the Waynesboro Army National Guard Readiness Center on Wednesday, June 6. The Mississippi National Guard has given the facility to the city of Waynesboro as part of a force structure reduction, cost-savings and facility consolidation plan.  

The Mississippi National Guard returned the Waynesboro Army National Guard Readiness Center to the city during a handover ceremony on Wednesday.

The transfer was made as part of a force structure reduction, cost-savings and facility consolidation plan, the National Guard stated in a news release.

The “armory” served as a training venue for Detachment 1, 3656th Maintenance Company.

All Det. 1, 3656th MC soldiers will retain their jobs and will be reassigned to the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, south of Hattiesburg, according to the National Guard. The Waynesboro personnel will reunite with their parent unit, bolstering coordination and overall training effectiveness, according to the National Guard. There are now 72 readiness centers in the state.

“The return allows the Mississippi Army National Guard to strengthen the force and provide a great facility for the city of Waynesboro,” Col. Paul McDonald, construction and facilities officer of the Mississippi Army National Guard, said in a statement. “The guard will save money in annual maintenance and utility costs and the community will repurpose the property to meet its needs.”

The Waynesboro readiness center was selected for return based on force structure reduction projections, proximity to larger population centers for recruiting, unit cohesion, facility age, and available state and federal funding, according to the National Guard. The Federal Budget Control Act of 2011 also influenced development of the MSNG’s overall plan to reduce the number of readiness centers, according to the National Guard. More readiness centers are also being considered for return to community operations in 2018, the news release stated.

“Maintaining readiness is our number one priority,” McDonald said in a statement. “Waynesboro and Wayne County residents can rest assured that the Mississippi National Guard will be trained and prepared to respond to any emergency in the community if needed.”