A combination of state and federal funds will ensure that Camp
Minden, located in northwest Louisiana, will continue to serve as a
major training facility for U.S. soldiers.
"This is a huge project which allows the guard to move forward
with training soldiers in the southeast portion of the United
States," said Camp Minden Lt. Col. Bill Aldridge.
In September 2008, officers at Camp Minden learned that the
training facility had secured $23.8 million of federal funding and
$4 million from the state's Rapid Response Fund, which will assist
with the construction of new facilities for the Regional Training
Institute, or RTI.
While Camp Minden has long been recognized for the quality
training it provides, officials expect that the new facilities will
allow an even higher level of military training.
"The long-term goal of the new RTI facilities to be built at
Camp Minden is to serve the National Guard as a premier Regional
Training Institute…a center of excellence for military
training," said Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, adjutant general
for the Louisiana National Guard.
Gov. Bobby Jindal expressed similar sentiments on Oct. 1, 2008,
when announcing that the funding for the new Regional Training
Institute had been secured:
"These critical state and federal investments in the training of
our brave men and women of the Louisiana National Guard will not
only support the guard's mission in our state, but this new
facility will also serve as a foundation for future military
investments and economic growth in northwest Louisiana. We saw the
incredible sacrifices and heroic acts of our National Guardsmen
just recently during hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and I know this
investment in their future training and growth will benefit not
just Louisiana, but our entire nation."
