Camp Ripley commander briefs Brainerd City Council on training, museum and base projects

Troy Fink, Garrison commander at Camp Ripley, briefed the Brainerd City Council on the installation’s 2024–25 operations and projects during the council’s March 17 meeting in council chambers.

Fink said Camp Ripley’s annual economic impact is “nearly $83,000,000,” with roughly $21,000,000 of that tied to construction and infrastructure work on the post. He described Camp Ripley as a level-2 training center capable of supporting heavy maneuver training — tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, aviation and artillery — and said April and June will be the busiest months this training season, with June likely to be the loudest because of artillery and aviation assets.

“We focus on communicating to city leaders, talking to them about what is going on at Camp Ripley, providing that transparency across the board,” Fink said. He added that Camp Ripley acquired three on-base day-care providers to support soldiers’ families and that the installation’s environmental team plans nearly 15,000 acres of prescribed burns this year, weather permitting.

Fink outlined two construction items the installation expects in coming years: a new access control point (main gate) targeted for 2027 that will add force-protection and anti-terrorism features while leaving the current gate as an historic marker, and a museum project whose walls are up and whose opening is projected for June–August 2026 depending on weather. He also noted about 40,000 acres are enrolled in an Army Compatible Use Buffer program designed to limit encroachment around the training area.

Council president O’Day asked for a brief technical distinction between a level-1 and level-2 training center. “Basically, the ability to mobilize soldiers and units,” Fink replied.

Mayor (title used in the meeting) and other council members praised work on the museum and thanked Camp Ripley for community outreach; the mayor said the museum’s location “is going to bring a lot more of the public in.” Fink said the installation plans an open house in September (held every other year) and offered to share a live camera link showing museum construction progress.

Fink closed by encouraging residents with veteran or family needs to contact Camp Ripley so staff can help connect them with benefits and services. Council members offered brief thanks and moved on to the next agenda item.

This briefing was delivered as an informational presentation; no council action was taken during the presentation.