Wednesday, November 25, 2009

State budget cuts have prompted the Kansas adjutant general to do his own version of base realignment and closure.

Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting plans to close 18 of the state's 56 National Guard armories. The moves will save nearly $157,000 in the fiscal year that ends June 30, and more than $260,000 in the following year.

The 18 specific locations being impacted by the proposed plan will be announced in December and consolidation efforts will occur from January to June 30, 2010.

Personnel working at these facilities (all federal employees) will be transferred to other armory locations. Training equipment and other items needed to continue operations will also be moved to those locations.

Some of the armories will remain unoccupied while equipment and personnel are transferred and operations are consolidated.

The changes mean that 19 full-time National Guard soldiers will be reassigned to other armories, while 678 soldiers will be forced to go to other locations for regular drills.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.