Ripley can continue to offer and provide critically
important, high quality military training and opera-
tions to ensure combat readiness, as well as mitigate
community development encroachment around the
installation. Through implementation of Camp Ri-
pley’s proposal, Camp Ripley will also contribute to
preserving the local heritage and enhancing a regional
conservation corridor (MNARNG 2011).
The local citizenry has always been very support-
ive of Camp Ripley and proud of the role that Camp
Ripley serves in preparing our Soldiers for the battle-
field. Their support is obvious from the number of
landowners that have come forward voluntarily and
without solicitation. In FY 2010 alone 27 landowners
representing 8,034 acres enrolled their property with-
in the Camp Ripley ACUB program. This brings the
total enrollment to 306 parcels totaling 42,000 acres.
Of the 306 parcels enrolled, our partners the “Minne-
sota Department of Natural Resources and the Minne-
sota Board of Water and Soil Resources” completed 12
and 47 land transactions, respectively; encumbering
over 9,800 acres with a direct expenditure of federal
funds and 17,410 acres through other contributions
(MNARNG 2011).
The sustainability initiatives and projects at these
and other state ARNGs exemplify the Guard’s com-
mitment to improved energy efficiency and security,
streamlined systems, cost-saving technology and sus-
tainable design. The impetus for sustainability comes
not only from ARNG Headquarters but also from
newly recruited members.
Conclusion
Sustainability, for the Army National Guard, is
an organizing principle that drives our ability to ef-