Kansas to receive additional soldiers at
Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth

Governor Kathleen Sebelius is pleased that community, state and federal efforts will result in additional combat support and combat support service units being stationed at Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth.

“Kansas values our military families,” Sebelius said. “We support soldiers and their families through local efforts and our Kansas military bill of rights,” Sebelius said. “The collaborative effort which began with the BRAC process continues today, and we believe local communities’ support of Fort Riley’s expansion played a key role in the decision to place these additional soldiers in Kansas.  The expansion of soldiers at Fort Riley has gone extremely well, and set a national example. Visiting military personnel have recognized Kansas as a leader in accommodating new troops.”

Governor Sebelius wrote to Secretary of the Army, Pete Geren and Army Chief of Staff, George Casey in October to highlight Kansas’ commitment to its military operations at Fort Riley. The governor also discussed the state-wide support our soldiers receive and the exemplary work of the Fort Riley Accommodation Task Force.  Since that time, the governor has also had follow-up conversations with Secretary Geren regarding Kansas’ readiness for additional troops.

“We will do our best to accommodate these additional soldiers and their families as they arrive at Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth,” Sebelius continued. “We have world-class military installations in Kansas that are ideally situated for additional soldiers.”  

Governor Sebelius was informed of the decision to add 1,315 soldiers to Fort Riley and 274 soldiers to Fort Leavenworth in a call this morning with Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Geoff Prosch. With these new troops, Fort Riley will grow from 11,400 soldiers assigned in FY’03, to 21,000 soldiers when these troops are all in place.

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