Are US Military Training Ranges Adequate?
Military training ranges are important national assets and play a critical role in preparing military forces for their wartime mission. The Department of Defense has reported for years that it faces increasing difficulties in carrying out realistic training at its ranges due to various constraints. While encroachment issues have had high visibility within DOD and the Congress, much less attention has been given to the overall conditions of training ranges, which can also have an adverse impact on training activities. Inspector visits to eight training ranges, along with DOD’s own assessments show that ranges are deteriorating and there is a lack of modernization. This adversely affects training activities and jeopardizes the safety of military personnel. To ensure readiness, servicemembers must have access to capable ranges–a key DOD transformation goal–that enables them to develop and maintain skills for wartime missions. However, training experts observed various degraded condition
