January 27, 2010

WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to get the Army to add training support to the Hawthorne Army Depot (HWAD) mission statement, Nevada Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign have co-authored a letter to Army Secretary John McHugh. The letter expresses concern that the U.S. Armed Forces do not currently have a designated high desert training area or facilities to support preparation for current operations and potential contingency operations, and touts HWAD as the ideal location.

“Army Special Forces and Marine units have recognized the value of this training area and are already conducting some training at Hawthorne,” wrote Senators Reid and Ensign.  “Marines are conducting mounted operations, training with vehicles and pack animals on the harsh terrain.  Army Special Forces are conducting combat drills and dismounted patrolling high desert and mountainous terrain.

“In 2008, there were 3,272 Service Members trained at Hawthorne.  Last year Hawthorne served as the training site for 10,484 Service Members.  Hawthorne’s unique ability to simulate the harsh realities of combat make this under-utilized asset a national treasure as our forces fight in preparation for deployments to Afghanistan and other contingency areas.”
 
The senators also noted the recent Los Angeles Times story that reports on how suitable HWAD is for training because of the similarity of the terrain to what soldiers will encounter in Afghanistan and the Hindu-Kush.
 
“The Marine Corps has expanded training eastward beyond the national forest into flatlands controlled by the Bureau of Land Management. A 68-mile overland convoy route through Lucky Boy Pass to the Army depot in Hawthorne, Nev., prepares Marines for the roadside bombs and sniper attacks they are likely to encounter in Afghanistan… Marines[also] receive instruction in avalanche survival, cold-weather medicine, the use of donkeys and mules as pack animals and how to adjust for thin air and tricky winds when aiming a sniper shot. There are live-fire ranges -- away from the areas where civilians are permitted.”


Text of the letter to Army Secretary McHugh follows:

Dear Secretary McHugh:

As our military faces long term challenges in the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility, we are concerned that the Armed Forces do not currently have a designated high desert training area and facilities to support preparation for current operations and potential contingency operations.   Hawthorne Army Depot (HWAD), situated in Nevada’s central high desert, is an ideal location for preparing our service members for the terrain, altitude, climate and logistical challenges they currently face in Afghanistan.  We are asking you to formally add training support to the HWAD mission.

Army Special Forces and Marine units have recognized the value of this training area and are already conducting some training at Hawthorne.  Marines are conducting mounted operations, training with vehicles and pack animals on the harsh terrain.  Army Special Forces are conducting combat drills and dismounted patrolling high desert and mountainous terrain. 

In 2008, there were 3,272 Service Members trained at Hawthorne.  Last year Hawthorne served as the training site for 10,484 Service Members.  Hawthorne’s unique ability to simulate the harsh realities of combat make this  under-utilized asset a national treasure as our forces fight in preparation for deployments to Afghanistan and other contingency areas. 

The physiological impacts of altitude are tremendous when conducting dismounted patrols with combat loads (weapons, body armor, ammunition, rucksacks, etc.) over rough terrain.   Hawthorne Army Depot is 4,330 feet above sea level, with mountains in the training area reaching over 10,000 feet above sea level.  By comparison, the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California sits at a mere 3,000 feet above sea level with its highest peaks barely reaching 5,000 feet. 

The harsh contours and rocky terrain create challenges that force tactical adaptations that can only be properly rehearsed in that environment.  The roads and trails at Hawthorne closely approximate those our troops will find in Afghanistan and the Hindu-Kush.

A recent article in the Los Angeles Times highlighted these facts, stating:

“The Marine Corps has expanded training eastward beyond the national forest into flatlands controlled by the Bureau of Land Management. A 68-mile overland convoy route through Lucky Boy Pass to the Army depot in Hawthorne, Nev., prepares Marines for the roadside bombs and sniper attacks they are likely to encounter in Afghanistan… Marines[also] receive instruction in avalanche survival, cold-weather medicine, the use of donkeys and mules as pack animals and how to adjust for thin air and tricky winds when aiming a sniper shot. There are live-fire ranges -- away from the areas where civilians are permitted.”

We believe that one of the best ways to take care of our Soldiers is to ensure they are properly prepared for the challenges they will face in combat through tough and realistic training. 

HWAD offers that environment for current and contingency operations. 

We request your support for the formal recognition of HWAD’s value in training our troops by adding training support to its mission statement.
                                                                            

Sincerely,

Harry Reid (D-NV)       John Ensign (R-NV)