National Guard Unit Works to Expand Armory Motor Pool

FESTUS, MO – It isn’t like going to the Virgin Islands, but Missouri National Guard Soldiers of the Festus-based 220th Engineer Company are getting valuable training while at the same time improving their armory. 

As part of their annual two-week training exercises, the 220th was originally slated to build a road inside a national park in the Virgin Islands.

That training was eventually cancelled in favor of something a little closer to home; expanding the motor pool at the Festus armory on Highway P. The project encompasses some 37,000 square feet and provides valuable heavy equipment and construction training to 220th soldiers.

“We’re creating more room to stage our equipment,” said Staff Sgt. Herb Krattli, III, of New Haven, a squad leader with 2nd Platoon. “Anytime we have to deploy and stage our equipment, our existing motor pool area is just barely big enough. This will give us more room to maneuver to stage convoys and that will make it safer for everyone.”

Soldiers will grade the area, haul gravel to the site and install a drainage system, while private contractors will install the fence, gate and lighting.

Krattli calls the project “a win-win situation” as it will benefit both the unit and the taxpayers.

“The taxpayers would have paid for us to train for two weeks no matter where we went,” he said. “By doing this work ourselves, the money we’re saving applies directly to the taxpayers. And while this isn’t like traveling the world, we’re completing an important project in our own back yard and it’s very valuable training-wise.”

“Any time we can get our soldiers on the equipment it’s great training,” added 1st Lt. Jason Davis, of , the unit operations officer. “We do round robin training so everyone gets a chance to operate the equipment and when you’re actually applying that to a real project the soldiers get to see the beginning, middle and end. And the fact that the project is right outside the door is a big benefit. You couldn’t ask for anything better.”

The 220th Engineer Company is part of the 1140th Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Cape Girardeau. Both units fall under command and control of the 35th Engineer Brigade, based at Fort Leonard Wood.

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