SCHUMER ANNOUNCES FT. DRUM TRAINING FACILITY CLEARS KEY HURDLES IN CONGRESS – HOUSE AND SENATE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS INCLUDE MAJOR FUNDING FOR $19 MILLION STATE-OF-THE-ART FT. DRUM MILITARY TRAINING ACADEMY

Current Non-Commissioned Officers Academy Is An Old, Deteriorating Building And Poses Numerous Safety Risks; New Facility Would Reduce Operating Costs, Streamline Training 

Schumer: Funding For New State-of-the-Art Facility Means New Jobs & Better Training for Fort Drum Soldiers 

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today that several New York priorities were incorporated into the House and Senate Military Construction appropriations bills, which include funding for a new $19 million non-commissioned officer (NCO) training academy at Fort Drum in Watertown. The current NCO academy is located in twenty substandard and deteriorating World War II-era structures that are widely dispersed and difficult to travel between. Schumer said consolidating the NCO Academy’s functions within one complex would reduce operating costs, give military officials a modern facility to train non-commissioned officers, and result in economic development opportunities for the North Country.

“The current NCO Academy is in no shape to train the dedicated men and women who serve our country,” said Senator Schumer. “I am pleased the House and Senate have included these New York priorities, like funding for a new Fort Drum training academy, in these bills. This will bring good jobs to Jefferson County and ensure the Army has the resources it needs to train our brave soldiers.”

The new NCO Academy would consolidate the operations of the old academy into a new facility. The new complex would include barracks, a general instruction building with automated-aided classrooms, new administration facilities, an auditorium, a training area and a running track with physical training area. The facility is funded by under the military construction program in the defense appropriations budget.

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