Army wants to modernize Ft. Irwin for future fight

The Army is looking to make changes to the National Training Center in California to better prepare for potential conflict with Russia and China, according to a notice in today's Federal Register.

The service posted a notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement for "modernization of training activities and improvement of training facilities" at the training center at Ft. Irwin, CA.

"Training changes are required to support new training doctrine that focuses on large Army formations operating against near-peer adversaries," the notice states. "In order to reflect weapon systems capabilities and evolving mission requirements, improvements need to be made to weapons ranges, urban operations training facilities, and communication infrastructure."

The NTC provides combined arms training for maneuver brigade combat teams including the Army's Stryker BCTs and armored BCTs. Joint military branches (i.e. the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force), Army Reserve, National Guard units, and regular and transitional law enforcement units, as well as home station units also receive training there.

The center designs and executes training exercises that prepare brigade-level units for operational deployments and conducts up to 12 BCT rotations per year.

Ft. Irwin "is one of the few places in the world that brigade-size units (5,000+ soldiers) can test their combat readiness," the notice states.