Oklahoma Army National Guard To Close Armories

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Almost 100 armories and reserve centers will be closed during the next several years by the Oklahoma Army National Guard. <br/><br/>Guard Colonel Pat Scully says the closure of the

Sunday, August 6th 2006, 2:08 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Almost 100 armories and reserve centers will be closed during the next several years by the Oklahoma Army National Guard.

Guard Colonel Pat Scully says the closure of the facilities is part of a plan to replace them by 2012 with regional facilities in western Oklahoma City, Lawton, Enid, Broken Arrow, Norman, McAlester and Muskogee.

The move toward regionalization is part of the recommendations approved last year by the federal Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission.

Scully says that new centers would alleviate problems such as leaky roofs that plague many old armory buildings. He says they also will allow for easier use of computers and other electronic equipment.

Scully says the facilities that will be shut down will be returned to the towns in which they are located or to the state.