Counterdrug academy could help NAS Meridian avoid base closures

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
Jan. 14, 2003
The head of the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy said his program could give Naval Air Station Meridian an added boost during the next round of base closures.
The academy is headquartered at NAS Meridian; the next round of military base closures, known as BRAC, is expected to begin in 2005.
McDaniel talked about the counterdrug academy on Monday to a group of about 50 Meridian Rotary Club members at their weekly meeting.
The academy is run by the Mississippi National Guard. It trains law enforcement officers from around the United States about how to deal with circumstances involved in drug arrests.
About 4,000 officers train at the center each year and the number continues to grow.
After outlining the training center's history over the past 10 years, McDaniel then told the group that he is hoping to receive anti-terrorism funding in the near future.
If lawmakers decide to put anti-terrorism money into things like the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy, McDaniel said Meridian's academy has a good shot at getting some of it.