Press Release
January 8, 2007

Lansing, Mich. - The Michigan Army National Guard will host an open house at the Charlotte Armory, Jan. 20, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., to announce a change of mission for the facility.

The armory, located on 1310 S. Cochran Rd., was built in 1926 and had been home to Battery C, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery until 2003 when the unit was consolidated with its sister unit in Albion under a Department of the Army Force Structure draw down.

However, as the Army down-sized, new recruits joined the Michigan Guard in record numbers putting Michigan in the first place recruiting slot, a statistical location they hadn't seen in decades. The MIARNG remained there for 37 weeks.

When a new recruit joins the Guard, they train one weekend a month, with a Recruit Sustainment Battalion. Company E, of the RSB, will make the Charlotte Armory its new home. Here the recruits will prepare to successfully complete their Initial Active Duty training. Their preparations will include the most recent high tech training on weapons, land navigation, force protection, Army Values, Conduct and Laws of War, Drill and Ceremony, Army physical fitness, Military Operations Urban Terrain, and Common Task Training.

(Direct questions about Company E or the Charlotte Armory to Sgt. 1st Class Sherman at (517)543-1410.)