The Georgia National Guard’s Company H, 148th Brigade Support Battalion commemorated their new unit headquarters at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany with a special ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday.

“We are here today to continue a very strong relationship between the Georgia Army National Guard, the Marine Corps Logistics Base, the State of Georgia, Dougherty County and the city of Albany,” said Col. Randall V. Simmons, Jr., commander of the Georgia Army National Guard. “We are thankful for the cooperation of so many for making this project a possibility.”

The event is a culmination of a partnered effort between the Georgia Department of Defense, MCLB Albany, and Albany-Dougherty County leadership. The ceremony was attended by many community and business leaders and included speeches from MCLB Albany Base Commander, Col. James C. Carroll III; Dougherty County Commission Chairman, Christopher S. Cohilas; City of Albany Mayor, Dorothy B. Hubbard; and Jeff Bodine Sinyard of the Southwest Georgia Alliance for Progress.

“Today is a celebration of the Georgia National Guard's new location on Albany's Marine Corps Logistics Base and the celebration of many years of work by many partners, whose committed vision and effort to this project helped it to be realized,” said Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard.

The new buildings include a 13,640 square foot, two-story barracks renovated for use as a drill hall and classrooms and another building that was extensively renovated for use as a unit headquarters and supply area. Company H has already moved into the new facilities and will be conducting their training at MCLB Albany going forward. The unit conducted training in the Monroe Street Armory facilities in Albany from 2008-2017.

Locating the Georgia National Guard aboard MCLB Albany brings an added mission on the base and provides enhanced living quarters, training facilities and, most importantly, security to the Guard,” said Jeff Bodine Sinyard of the Southwest Georgia Alliance for Progress.

The new structures are among the six projects awarded by the Georgia Army National Guard’s Construction and Facilities Management office to Johnson-Laux Construction through the Gordian Group’s statewide contract at MCLB Albany in 2016.

“From the 1800s through the Global War on Terror, Albany has served as a gracious host to our Guardsmen in a mutually beneficial partnership,” said Simmons. “This project is another example of the commitment of the citizens of Albany and Dougherty County to that relationship.”