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March 1, 2022

Construction of 5,400-acre Maine military training site is in full swing

building under construction Courtesy / Maine Army National Guard Soldiers from the 185th Engineer Support Company in Houlton and Presque Isle and the 136th Engineer Company in Lewiston and Skowhegan have been performing earthwork and constructing multipurpose buildings at Woodville Training Site.
By Staff

A 5,400-acre military training site under construction in Penobscot County is expected to reduce travel time for Maine Army National Guard personnel.

"With continued developments, the Woodville Training Site will significantly improve the Maine Army National Guard's ability to train soldiers to meet their federal mission by reducing the amount of travel units do to out-of-state ranges," Lt. Col. Shanon Cotta, who oversees the Maine Army National Guard's training sites, said in a news release.

"Essentially, less travel for drill equates to more training time for the individual soldier."

With new qualification standards, Maine units are frequently required to travel to range facilities in Fort Devens, Mass.; Camp Ethan Allen, Vt.; and Gagetown, New Brunswick, among other locations.

The development was recently selected as the winner of the 2022 Secretary of the Army Environmental Award for Natural Resources Conservation in the under 10,000-acre installation award category, according to the release.

The Maine Army National Guard will compete as the Army's nominee for the 2022 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards in the same category.

Canada lynx

Maine's selection stems from significant efforts over the past two years to develop the training site while balancing protection of over 1,000 acres of wetlands and habitat for endangered species such as the Atlantic salmon and Canada lynx.

"There has been a tremendous amount of effort put into this gradual project to bring a state-of-the-art military training facility to Maine," said Maj. Gen. Douglas Farnham, Maine's adjutant general. 

The project began in 2013 with a bond to acquire significant acreage in township T2R9 NWP, followed by additional land in neighboring Woodville. 

Recent accomplishments include an environmental assessment and land use permitting, public forums, construction on a 25-meter small arms and light demolitions range, work on a battalion-sized encampment area and replacement of 7 miles of old logging roads.

In-state assets

The organization has used in-house assets in order to promote fiscal stewardship and soldier training opportunities related to the project. 

In place of military construction funding, the Maine National Guard utilized small-scale project funding along with sustainment, repair and modernization funds. In-state Army engineers have performed work as part of their annual training, providing relevant training opportunities for soldiers while continually improving the training area.

"Recent annual training accomplishments have included roadwork and culvert placement, as well as construction of four multi-purpose buildings," said Cotta, who also serves as commander of the Brunswick-based 133rd Engineer Battalion. "We have plans to construct an additional four buildings this summer."

Expanded range

The Maine Army National Guard intends to continue developing the site to include more permanent infrastructure, and to expand a newly constructed 25-meter range to a 1,500-meter range suitable for training to new Army standards.

"This is a critical need for our organization," said Col. Joshua Doscinski, director of operations. "The continued development of Woodville Training Site, particularly the range complex, means better and more frequent access to quality training for our soldiers.”

The organization plans to maintain environmental discipline going forward.

"It's important because we're a community-based organization," Farnham said. "And just like our neighbors, we grew up enjoying the Maine outdoors and its sporting and recreational traditions. 

“So it's important to us that as we continue this project, one that is critically aligned with the readiness of our service members, that we do so in a conservation-minded way. We're committed to being good neighbors to both the people and the land of Penobscot County."

In addition to the economic impact created by development, the facility may be used by out-of-state active, reserve and National Guard units from all military branches, which could bring additional business to the Lincoln and Millinocket area.

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