No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Toptier Training at the NTC

Madison Linnihan
by Madison Linnihan
June 17, 2017

While in the barren Mojave Desert, AKA “Death Valley,” Fort Irwin is home to one of the country’s premier training facilities: The National Training Center. Every year, National Guardsmen from all over the country train at Combat Training Centers (CTC). Like the JRTC, the National Training Center (NTC) is one of the national guard’s CTCs. The NTC also replicates the conditions that soldiers face on the battlefield, although, a little differently than the JRTC.

The History of the NTC

The NTC’s military roots date back pretty far. In 1940, Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Mojave Anti-Aircraft Range. However, in 1942, the base was renamed, Camp Irwin, after the 57th Field Artillery Brigade commander, Major General LeRoy George Irwin, in WWI. In 1944, Camp Irwin shut down. Seven years later, it reopened as an Armored Combat Training Area during the Korean War. Fort Irwin didn’t get the name “Fort Irwin” until 1961 at its permanent installation. However, a decade later it was deactivated once more for maintenance. On August 9, 1979, the Department of the Army announced that Fort Irwin would be the NTC’s home.

NTC Welcome Sign

Training at the NTC

Like the JRTC, the troops here train to overcome the adversities they experience at the NTC. While the JRTC is infamous for its muggy, sticky, and humid climate, the NTC is known for just the opposite. They don’t call the Mojave Dessert “Death Valley” for no reason. The ridiculously hot and dry climate helps the troops train for the weather they might encounter on the battlefield though. The National Training Center website explains that “As in the past, Fort Irwin pits soldiers against a harsh environment, but now adds a determined and formidable opposing force. As during World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm, the National Training Center and Fort Irwin continue to train units to fight and win on the battlefield.” Additionally, after 9/11, the NTC transformed to recreate the battlefield similar to the Middle Eastern and Southwest Asian deserts.

Replica of Afghanistan at the NTC

Brigade on Brigade Operations

The NTC, which is 1,200 square miles, is the only location in the country that can accommodate brigade on brigade operations. Lt. Col. Mick Braun says in the Army Times’ article, “Combat Training Rotations will Increase to 18 Days,” by Michelle Tan explains what the training is like. According to Tan, “the brigade and soldiers from several other supporting units were tasked with supporting and defending the fictional country of Atropia from its fictional neighbor Donovia.” Braun says, “You have the threat of an armed invasion from across the border, but you also have an insurgency occurring within the border. What kicks off the scenario is when the Donovians cross the border”.

NTC in Fort Irwin
NTC in Fort Irwin

This training is extremely beneficial to US troops because it allows them to experience combat before entering the actual battlefield. According to the National Training Center website, “Officials from many countries have visited the National Training Center and use it as a model to build their own training centers”. This only proves how important the training at the NTC is for our troops.

 

Tags: ArmyCombatDeath ValleyDefensedeploymentDODFDRFort IrwinJRTCMilitarymilitary familiesMojave DesertNational GuardNational Training CenterNATONTCTrainingUS ArmyUS Military
Madison Linnihan

Madison Linnihan

Madison Linnihan is a contributing editor with AmeriForce Media. She currently writes weekly blog posts for Military Families Magazine and The Reserve & National Guard Magazine, as well as contributing feature articles to both magazines. She is a senior at Troy University with an English Major and dance minor.

Related Posts

Navy reservist captures history over 30-year career

by Taneika Duhaney
2 days ago
0
Navy reservist

Amy Forsythe, now a Navy reservist, has documented service members in some of the most remote regions in the world...

Read more

Marine Corps Reserve veteran reflects on ‘fly on the wall’ view of Iraq War

by Kari Williams
4 days ago
0
Iraq

When talk of the Iraq War began, retired Marine Corps Capt. Matthew Hoh was a junior officer for the Secretary...

Read more

Our Military Kids shines light on ‘hidden helpers’ with annual contest

by Kari Williams
1 week ago
0
Our Military Kids

When reviewing nominations for the Our Military Kids Courageous Kids contest in 2022, one child’s story spurred the creation of...

Read more

AFRC, Mercy hospitals training agreement benefits multiple parties

by Allison Churchill
2 weeks ago
0
Mercy

An agreement between Air Force Reserve Command and Mercy allows reservists in medical fields to train at the Catholic hospital...

Read more

Ohio Guard quietly removed guardsman guilty of making ghost guns last year

by Military.com
3 weeks ago
0
Ice covers the "Minuteman" statue in front of the Ohio Air National Guard Headquarters building, Dec. 20, 2016. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joe Harwood\Released)

The Ohio National Guard says it booted a guardsman who was sentenced for making ghost guns from its ranks months...

Read more

National Guard, reserve veterans among IAVA’s advocacy all-stars

by AmeriForce Staff
3 weeks ago
0
IAVA

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America's (IAVA) All-Star Advocacy Fly-In on Capitol Hill included several reserve component veterans.

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SPORTS
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW

Skip to toolbar
  • About WordPress
    • WordPress.org
    • Documentation
    • Support
    • Feedback
  • AMP
    • View AMP version