equency transmitter site in Isabela and the nearby area of Sabana Seca would both be attacked by terrorists.
Activity at Fort Allen quickly outgrew the capacity of the base and, in 1980 operations were moved to the newly established Naval Communication Station Puerto Rico. The following year, a US Immigration and Naturalization Service processing station was erected at Fort Allen to deal with the influx of Cuban and Haitian refugees fleeing conflict in the area. Over the next few years, control of the base was transitioned to the Puerto Rico Army National Guard, who had already been using the base for training for the past several years.
In 1983, Fort Allen began gaining large permanent units, including the 35th Signal Battalion and other components of the United States Army Reserve. Two years later, the Puerto National Guard Language Center moved to Fort Allen, further boosting its size. The early 1990’s saw almost 600 ships stationed in the Fort Allen area as a result of technological leaps in communication and radio technology that allowed Army and Navy units to greatly expand mission capacities. In 2007, Fort Allen saw several units, deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Present day Fort Allen continues to be a stronghold of communications and operational support for the Fort Allen Armed Forces Reserve, Puerto Rico National Guard, United States Navy and the United States Army Reserves. There are also several detachments at Fort Allen that operate to support the National Guard Youth Challenge Program.
Despite being primarily an education and training facility, Fort Allen does have several other recreational and multi-use buildings. The base boasts a pool, barracks, security office, barber shop and a chow hall.
Youth Challenge Program
Established in 1999, the National Guard Youth Challenge Program at Fort Allen is a community outreach program geared towards at risk youth. The program provides a structured program for high school dropout’s ages 16 to 18. National Guard personnel help instill discipline, values, life skills and education in hopes of giving the youth a new track on life.
Fort Allen is home to a number of both Army Reserve and Army National Guard units. The base also regularly plays host to US Navy units.
Current United States Army Reserve Units include the 276th Ordnance Company, 35th Signal Battalion, 613th Military Policy Company, 941st Quartermaster Company and the 807th Signal Company.
Current Fort Allen United States Army National Guard units include the 219th Quartermaster detachment, 192nd Support Battalion (C Company) and the 240th Military Policy Company.
Fort Allen also houses the retention office of the United States Army Reserve, Armed Forces Reserve Center,180th Division and the US Army Reserve 8th Multifunctional.