National Guard expands in Pike

BY ANDREA BENNETT

NEWS EDITOR

The Army National Guard is in the process of establishing a recruitment center in Pike County, officials said.

“There are kids here that need us and we want them on our team,” said LTC Rondal Turner, Kentucky Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Commander.

Guard officials are looking for a space to rent, and hope to establish more of a presence in the county in the near future.

Recent news suggested that recruiting officers are having more trouble finding men and women who want to join the military.

However, Turner said that is not the Guard's motivation. In fact, the Kentucky Army National Guard has already met its recruitment requirements for 2006.

“We want to expand our market and this is the perfect place to do it,” Turner said.

The recruitment officer stationed in Prestonsburg is responsible for covering Pike County, along with several other counties in the Big Sandy area. Area Supervisor Keith Humbree said with such a large territory the officer can not devote much time to one particular area.

Once established in Pike County, Turner said the Guard has hopes of developing a small detachment and eventually an armory in the county.

News Editor Andrea Bennett can be reached via e-mail at abennett@news-expressky.com

National Guard expands in Pike