Congressional staffers ‘rock and roll’ on YPG ranges
Like other federal government organizations, the Army is funded by American citizens through public tax dollars, making positive community relations a necessity. The U.S. Army Yuma Proving recently “reached out” to staffers from Arizona congressional offices to provide them with a detailed view of a vitally important national defense mission that doesn’t often get the exposure it deserves.
Nine staffers from Arizona Congressional offices, as well as other officials and members of the Yuma 50 local military support group, visited YPG for about five hours last month. After a detailed briefing from the YPG commander, Col. Ross Poppenberger, they spent an adventurous, stimulating morning inspecting then riding armored vehicles, witnessing YPG artillery testing, viewing unmanned aircraft and a variety of sensor testing, and much more. Many found it an eye-opening experience.
According to Poppenberger, the staffers were super-receptive to the briefings they received and the activities they saw. One of the main messages he tried to get across is that, due to the Army’s intense interest in developing long range artillery and precision munitions, the proving ground has outgrown its boundaries.
“They understand it and are supportive of helping us to expand to the point where we can achieve a 100 kilometer artillery shot,” he said. “That is far beyond what conventional artillery can do.”
Typically, tours of this type are straightforward in nature, highlighting daily mission activities in a no-nonsense manner. The tour did this, but added critical, detailed information about YPG’s future needs and made the overall tour memorable by allowing them to experience riding an armored vehicle through the desert and allowing them to pull lanyards on artillery pieces.
“We need to position YPG for the future,” said Poppenberger, “and that future is a 100 kilometer shot for our main customer.”
Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley has laid out carefully defined priorities for the Army, establishing teams to carry them out. Of these teams, long range precision fires is the No. 1 priority.
“Long range firing is coming and we at YPG must be prepared,” he said. “If not, a base somewhere else will be. We simply must be able to support the technology on the way.”
Travis Schulte, legislative liaison for the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, attended the tour and took time to share some of his observations. Though Arizona contains some of the largest test ranges in the Department of Defense, he feels the footprint of many is not sufficient for future weapon systems.
“As ballistics improve,” he said, “surface danger zones expand and concerns grow. It impacts activities of the Arizona National Guard, as well as air and ground active military services throughout the state.”
The Yuma 50 local military support organization lobbied for the visit and arranged a welcome dinner when the congressional staffers arrived in town. The feedback from participants was extremely positive.
“This was not an average tour and YPG pulled out all the stops,” said Julie Engel, Yuma 50 chairperson and director of the Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation.
A major tour accomplishment, she said, was that it made the point that YPG was being proactive in planning for the future.
“To be ready when things happen rather than reacting to it was a message this audience needed to hear, for they can help achieve it. We don’t want to play catch up.”