Maj. Gen. Kerry L. Muehlenbeck, Adjutant General of Arizona, is joined by Command Sgt. Maj. Aaron Buelow, Command Senior Enlisted Leader, and Lt. Col. Joshua Oldenkamp, of the 98th Aviation Troop Command, and other community members during the turning of the shovels portion of the groundbreaking ceremony for the future Tucson Readiness Center, 8015 S. Rita Road, on Wednesday.

The Arizona Army National Guard has broken ground on a new readiness center on Tucson’s southeast side to support two transportation units.

The state Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, which includes the Arizona National Guard, held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, March 27, for the new Tucson Readiness Center at 8015 S. Rita Road.

The readiness center, being built on about 34 acres with completion expected in late 2025, will support the training and operations of the Arizona Army National Guard’s 222nd and 2220th Transportation Companies.

The 2220th Transportation Company is located at Army Guard’s Valencia Road armory and will move to the new Rita Road location, a DEMA spokeswoman said. The 222nd Transportation Company is based in Mesa.

The two medium-truck companies, part of the Glendale-based 1120th Transportation Battalion, transport bulk items including water, ammunition, vehicles, palletized items and cargo containers, with the capability to deliver materiel over long distances and to remote sites over difficult terrain.

A change-of-command ceremony was held Sept. 10, in which Col. Brant Putnam took command from Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Butler, who retired after more than 35 years of service.

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