Florida State Guard’s $10 million headquarters to include gun range, offices and more

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new Florida State Guard is expected to spend $10 million to build its new headquarters in a sprawling plot of land in northeast Florida, complete with administrative offices, a firearms range and a tactical shooting house.

Construction for the new facility has not started yet as the lease between the State Guard and Flagler County has to be finalized. But on Monday, county officials indicated support for a 30-year lease agreement at no cost to the state, as long as the space is shared with local public safety agencies.

“Upon the expiration of the 30-year term, any facilities constructed on county lands will revert to the ownership of the county,” according to a draft of the proposed lease agreement.

Once the lease is signed, construction would be finalized in about two years, said Jorge Salinas, deputy county administrator. The State Guard would be responsible for all construction costs and doling out contracts, Salinas said.

The new headquarters are part of the governor’s expanded vision for the State Guard, a World War II-era force he brought back last year to supplement the state’s overworked and understaffed Florida National Guard.

Unlike the National Guard, State Guard members can’t be deployed by the federal government. They answer only to the governor. The 120-member force has yet to be deployed, but the governor and State Guard officials have said members will respond to natural disasters, as well as help law enforcement respond to “riots and illegal immigration.”

In June, some early recruits raised questions about the State Guard’s leadership and direction, which some say is more militarized than originally envisioned.

READ MORE: After a rocky start, Florida State Guard supporters seek clarity on next steps

More training on the schedule

At the moment, State Guard volunteers are being trained at Camp Blanding, a training base for the Florida National Guard near Jacksonville. The first class of recruits graduated out of that facility on June 30.

After a July hiatus, the first class of volunteers is set to begin monthly training drills at the end of August. The drill will include point-of-distribution training, which is used during disaster relief in impacted areas and centralized locations where survivors can receive necessities, according to documents obtained by the Herald/Times.

The other drills scheduled for the rest of the year will cover first aid and mental health first aid, search and rescue, shelter operations, vehicle training, traffic control, and damage assessments.

The training sessions will take place as the State Guard remains without a director and other officials who recently left the organization. Luis Soler, the former leader of the State Guard, left the post in June for personal reasons. The governor has yet to name a replacement.

It is unclear who will oversee the training in absence of key personnel.

Plans for the new headquarters

While the lease has yet to be approved, plans for the new headquarters in Flagler County include a training facility with a firearms range, a tactical shoot house, a driving range and classrooms. There will also be administrative offices for State Guard personnel.

As of July 1, the State Guard has a specialized law enforcement unit with police powers and the authority to bear arms. State officials, however, have not said how they plan to use the specialized unit.

According to the draft lease agreement, the State Guard will need to develop a plot of land that is in a “substantially natural state.” Hundreds of trees and vegetation currently cover the area where the base of operations and facilities will be located.

“The Guard agrees to pay all costs related to the construction of all improvements, including but not limited to all utility hookup fees, impact fees, permit fees and mitigation costs, if any,” the agreement says. “All improvements constructed by the Guard are subject to state appropriations.”

Florida lawmakers approved a nearly $100 million budget for the State Guard earlier this year. That included $10 million for its new headquarters.

Changes and adjustments to the construction plans will need to be approved by the county and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, and any additional costs will be subject to the Legislature’s approval.