Construction for a Light Demolition Range will begin this summer on the Vermont Army National Guard’s Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont.

The new range will allow traditional Soldiers who usually drill one weekend a month and two weeks a year to maximize training time by avoiding travel to Fort Drum, New York.

“The United States Army has charged the Vermont Army National Guard to provide ready Soldiers who are prepared to fight and win anywhere in the world,” said Brig. Gen. James Pabis, assistant adjutant general – Army, Vermont Army National Guard. “Rather than spending over six hours just traveling to Fort Drum, our Soldiers can spend their time conducting hands-on training.”

Prior to construction approval, the Vermont Army National Guard prepared an Environmental Assessment which included a public comment period from Feb. 9 to March 20, 2020, which was subsequently extended to April 9, 2020, at the request of the town of Underhill. After review of the Environmental Assessment, the Army National Guard has approved construction of the range.

"The Vermont Army National Guard works diligently to communicate with the communities impacted by training on the range,” said Lt. Col. David Fabricious, director of range operations. “We will continue to share our training schedules with town administrators who may post on town websites and provide residents with as much awareness as possible of planned events.”

Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, sometimes referred to as Ethan Allen Firing Range, resides on 11,219 acres of federal property licensed to the State of Vermont Military Department. The property encompasses parts of the towns of Bolton, Jericho, and Underhill, in Chittenden County. The proposed Light Demolition Range is a live-fire demolition and explosive facility that would meet Army specifications and allow Vermont Army National Guard units to train on the use and employment of explosives in various applications such as timber cutting, steel cutting and obstacle reduction.