Public to get look at improved National Guard armory in South Bend

SOUTH BEND — After three years and $21 million, members of the public will get their first chance to see the Indiana Army National Guard’s improved South Bend armory for themselves when the complex opens its doors for an open house and recruiting event Saturday afternoon.

The armory reopened in February, allowing the 2nd Battalion of the 151st Infantry Regiment to move back from its temporary home in LaPorte County, after a federally funded project that added about 40,000 square feet to the building and remodeled 39,000 square feet of existing space.

National Guard and elected officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in January, but Saturday’s open house will be the first public event at the armory, which was shut down for about three years because of the renovations.

“We wanted a day where people can see what we have and what we’re capable of,” said Master Sgt. Denny J. Harlan, a Guard recruiting officer. “It’s probably only a once-a-year type event where we actually open the gates and people have a chance to come in and see the armory, so it’s pretty rare.”

The open house, set to run from noon to 4 p.m., will give the public a look at various weapons and equipment, such as a UH-72 Lakota helicopter, military ambulance and training simulators. Representatives for education, health care, retirement, training and employment assistance also will be on hand to talk about the benefits of joining the National Guard.

In the 14 years since 9/11, Harlan said, more than 100,000 Hoosiers joined the military. Since then, the combat mission has faded, but the National Guard is just as important because it fills a unique role in protecting the homeland, he said.

He pointed to the role of National Guard soldiers in responding to natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and last year’s severe flooding in Texas. Locally, Guard soldiers help during severe winter weather by clearing impassible roads for emergency personnel.

“Without the front-line battles going on, it doesn’t get the publicity, but that doesn’t stop recruiting efforts in our area,” Harlan said. “The unique thing about the National Guard is, we’re the only branch stateside that does that natural disaster help and terrorism help.”

The South Bend armory, at 1901 S. Kimble Ave., is home base for about 1,500 soldiers in the 2nd Battalion of the 151st Infantry Regiment, plus local elements of the U.S. Marine Corps reserves.

Officials have said they expect the improved armory to provide training not only for the local units, but also for soldiers from throughout Indiana. The armory also hosts the U.S. Department of Defense’s Starbase program, which offers science, technology, engineering and math learning for local fifth-grade students.

csheckler@sbtinfo.com

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If you go

The Indiana Army National Guard will host an open house and recruiting event from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at its remodeled armory at 1901 S. Kemble Ave., South Bend.