TOPSHAM

The Maine Army National Guard has moved its Topsham recruiting center from the Topsham Fair Mall to Route 201.

Staff Sgt. Kimberly Richardson, the recruiting officer, said the recruiting office is now located at 126 Main St., within the Driven Health and Fitness Center, formerly home of The Maine Event gym.

The recruiting office provides information and “tons of handouts and brochures,” she said.

Richardson said the Maine Army National Guard has two missions. It reports to Maine’s governor and can be deployed in response to any national disaster, such as the ice storm of 1998. More recently, Maine Army National Guard units provided emergency response after a hurricane struck Connecticut. Its engineers helped rebuild bridges that were destroyed.

In addition to dealing with local emergencies, the Maine Army National Guard can also be deployed overseas on national defense mission.

“We’re kind of a jack of all trades,” Richardson said.

The National Guard is a reserve component of the military, though its soldiers undergo the same training as active duty and reserve soldiers. Guardsmen train one weekend a month and two weeks during the summer.

Richardson generally is in the office from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Another soldier covers the office on the weekends or when she’s out visiting schools.

Richardson said she can be reached at 249- 8366. Learn more about the Maine Army National Guard at www.me.ngb.army.mil.