Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- The Utah National Guard will add an infantry battalion, increasing its force by 762 soldiers by 2028.
- Lt. Col. Chris Kroeber highlighted the years of effort leading to this decision, emphasizing recruitment and retention success.
- Brig. Gen. Shawn Fuellenbach noted the economic impact and strategic placement of new units in Utah communities.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah National Guard announced Wednesday it will be getting an infantry battalion, which is expected to add 762 soldiers to the existing state Guard.
This was "the result of quite a few years of effort, positioning the Guard for growth," said Lt. Col. Chris Kroeber, spokesman for the Utah National Guard. An infantry unit is one of the basic building blocks of the Army.
The details are still up in the air, Kroeber said, but the growth is expected to take place by September 2028. There are "a lot of administrative details that are being worked on," he said, including assessing the capacity of the current armory, where the soldiers will be placed, recruiting efforts and more.
"The addition of this battalion has a direct economic impact across the state," said Brig. Gen. Shawn Fuellenbach, assistant adjutant general and commander of the Utah Army National Guard. "We are working to develop the stationing plan and are confident that these new units will be placed in the right communities that complement these new capabilities."
"This is a huge thing for us," Kroeber said, adding that while there were several factors that go into the decision, the state's "ability to recruit and retain" plays a strong role in the Army's decision. He said that Utah's "numbers look great."
Logistically, the Guard works to "spread capabilities across the country," according to Kroeber, which also impacted the decision.
Some new soldiers may come in from other units; others may be recruited within the state. "The Army doesn't grow, typically," Kroeber said. "It just shifts."
The Guard's moves to develop over 24,000 acres of real estate through the Military Installation Development Authority and land transfer with the University of Utah were not directly related to this planned growth, Kroeber said.
Correction: An earlier version said the infantry would be added to the existing state Guard, but it will be added to the National Guard in the state.
