New Idaho Military Headquarters Now Open In Magic Valley

A new 55,000-square-foot facility that will house a division of the Idaho National Guard along Highway 93 in southern Idaho has opened following a recent dedication ceremony.

Plans for the Dirk Kempthorne Idaho National Guard Readiness Center began in 2023. On Monday, June 29, a gathering to mark the facility's official opening was held, according to details provided by Idaho News 6.

The Idaho National Guard consists of roughly 3,500 soldiers statewide, and there are more than 20 training facilities in the state, according to Idaho.gov.

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Idaho's Newest National Guard Facility Has Opened In Jerome County

Idaho National Guard Center in Jerome County   Credit: YouTube

The 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion previously resided at 1069 Frontier Road in Twin Falls, but was deactivated several weeks ago, according to KMVT. The new Jerome County base, at 611 Liberty Avenue, will act as headquarters for the recently activated 145th Light Support Battalion and its maintenance wing.

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The mission of the Idaho National Guard is to remain on alert in anticipation of military mobilizations through continuous training, whether that means protecting communities in the United States from domestic threats or responding to overseas conflicts. The unit is often called into action in cases of terrorist threats or citizen upheaval on United States soil.

In total, the United States Army National Guard consists of nearly 400,000 servicemen and women, according to Statista. The new facility is located 70 miles southeast of the Mountain Home Air Force Base.

It's not known what purpose the former Twin Falls military center will serve in the future since being deactivated.