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Veterans home site to become armory facility

Jul-26-2007 » Filed Under: 56th SBCT

By Kay Stephens, Altoona Mirror

The state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs plans to build an armory near North Juniata Street where soldiers will train on the mechanics of the Army’s newest troop-carrying vehicle.

The new building will replace the Frankstown Armory and provide space to accommodate the 19-ton, eight-wheeled Stryker, a military combat vehicle that’s been described as “a Humvee on steroids.” Stryker training at the new facility will be limited to the vehicle’s state-of-the-art computer system and related mechanics.

“The real driving and use of the weaponry? None of that will take place there,” department spokesman Kevin Cramey said Wednesday.

The Pennsylvania National Guard was selected a year ago as the only state guard to get a brigade of Strykers valued for their rapid deployment and ability to travel up to 75 mph. Since then, the Guard has initiated training at Fort Indiantown Gap and moved forward on plans to build 10 armories and renovate/expand 11 others where additional training will occur, Cramey said.

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