The National Guard is asking for $20 million in assistance from the South Dakota State Legislature to help pay for the construction of a new facility at Rapid City Regional Airport.

The National Guard Readiness Center, which will go next to the National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility at the airport, will provide more room for the Guard's aviation space, according to Maj. Anthony Deiss, the Rapid City Journal reported.

"The maintenance facility they've been in lacks the required training and logistical and administrative space for units to be able to achieve sufficiency in required training tasks that support readiness for federal and state missions," said Deiss.

Deiss said the Guard's current 10,600-sq.-ft. building must fit 150 Guardsmen, plus a series of helicopters and other fixed-wing aircraft. In contrast, the new facility will be 58,000 sq. ft. and will provide space for offices, classrooms, training areas and storage. The aircraft will remain in the old building, the Rapid City Journal reported.

Deiss said the new facility will help Guard members stay ready for deployments, as well as prepare for local missions, like aerial support of wildland firefighters, aerial rescues in the Black Hills and aerial surveillance in conjunction with law enforcement, the Rapid City Journal reported.

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