Fort Huachuca, Arizona Vital to National Defense — C4ISR

Fort Huachuca, located in southeast Arizona, has been a vital component of our nation’s security since 1877. The current scope of operations at Fort Huachuca includes all components of C4ISR: Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, with some missions conducted under conditions that cannot be replicated anywhere in the United States.

Located just 9 miles north of the Mexican border, in addition to its critical Army and Department of Defense (DoD) missions, Fort Huachuca also provides a strategic advantage for Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other federal agencies.

The Army’s Headquarters for Worldwide Communications As technology advanced, so did Fort Huachuca has served as the The U.S. Army Information Systems Fort Huachuca’s mission. The U.S. Army’s Network Enterprise Engineering Command is also Cold War ushered in a new era Technology Command (NETCOM) headquartered at Fort Huachuca, for the Fort when its location since 1973. NETCOM leads global acting as the lead engineer proved to be ideal for testing operations for the Army’s portion of information technology, electronic and communications of the Department of Defense supporting major Army commands equipment. In 1967, Fort Huachuca Information Network, ensuring and installations worldwide across became the headquarters freedom of action in cyberspace a broad spectrum of strategic for the U.S. Army Strategic while denying the same to our communications systems. It also Communications Command, a adversaries. Additionally, Fort supports five directorates in mission it still serves today. Huachuca’s Defense Coordination the United States. Office is responsible for provisioning Army long-haul telecommunications requirements worldwide. The Army’s Headquarters for Intelligence, Technology, Testing, and Training Fort Huachuca is home to the Here, aggressive, offensive Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of electronic warfare/jamming testing Army’s only Joint Interoperability Excellence, bringing with it the is conducted. It’s the only U.S. Test Command (JITC), a field 111th Military Intelligence Brigade. location where such extensive command of the Defense The Center is the Army’s premier testing is possible, thanks to Information Systems Agency. intelligence training facility for southeast Arizona’s geography and JITC’s mission is to serve as the its active, reserve and guard altitude, as well as state and federal Department of Defense’s joint component soldiers, and also mandates protecting both the interoperability certifier and is the trains Air Force and Marine Corps airspace and electronic range. only non-service operational test personnel. The Fort also serves agency of information technology/ as the DoD’s Human Intelligence national security systems. JITC has a Training Joint Center of Excellence, A One-of-a-Kind Installation unique array of hardware, software, providing all advanced human With a mild climate, 320-plus and expertise disbursed among intelligence training across every flying days a year, and 964 square 41 test beds and labs, creating an branch of the military. miles of restricted airspace that interface for all on-site capabilities ranges from surface to 30,000 and networks with any other testing Part of the Department of Defense feet, Fort Huachuca is the Army’s or operational facility worldwide. Major Range and Test Facility Base, only training facility for Unmanned Fort Huachuca serves as key partner Aircraft System (UAS) operators The history of Fort Huachuca in in intelligence electronic warfare in the United States. The training national security is long and it has testing. The irreplaceable U.S. Army facility supplies ground force consistently adapted to address Electronic Proving Ground at Fort commanders with combat-ready new threats. Ever-changing Huachuca provides critical services soldiers and marines with the technology and evolving needs to Army program managers, joint highest level of UAS technical have elevated Fort Huachuca to services, other military services, training. It is the only location in its current role as a leader in cyber foreign governments, national the country where manned and security and electronic warfare agencies, and U.S. industry. This unmanned aircraft are allowed to training and testing. Fort Huachuca mission is possible through the be in the airspace at the same time, is ensuring that the United States unique climate and federally providing a one-of-a-kind training remains at the cutting edge of protected airspace at Fort opportunity. intelligence technology today and Huachuca. far into the future. A Unique and Strategic Location Southeast Arizona’s elevation, full power jamming as part of the Situated between White Sands surrounding mountains, climate, DoD’s cyber warfare testing. Missile Range in Las Cruces, and airspace are unique within New Mexico, as well as key military the Department of Defense’s Fort Huachuca is home to facilities in Arizona, including inventory of installations. Not the Army’s only high altitude Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, only does the terrain and climate unimproved dirt assault airstrip, the Yuma Proving Grounds, Luke replicate combat zones for giving pilots a realistic training AFB in Phoenix and the Goldwater realistic training, the Buffalo ground for combat missions. Also Range, Fort Huachuca’s location Soldier Electronic Test Range home to Libby Army Airfield, Fort in southeast Arizona positions consists of 2,500 square miles of Huachuca’s 12,000 foot runway it as a vital partner with these a “high altitude bowl” surrounding can accommodate any type of critical defense facilities, providing Fort Huachuca that cannot be military or civilian aircraft, making both training and mission support duplicated anywhere in the United it a strategic component in military across all military branches. States. This bowl enables the transport and training. Army to conduct full frequency, Capacity to Enhance the National Defense Fort Huachuca’s missions are These efforts resulted from of gallons of water to replenish not only vital to the Army, they years of collaboration with the aquifer each year. support other military branches Cochise County, the City of through training, testing and Sierra Vista, the Upper San Pedro communications. Fortunately, Partnership, the Cochise Water thanks to innovative water Project, the Nature Conservancy, conservation and augmentation the Cochise Conservation and efforts performed in partnership Recharge Network, and others. with local organizations, the Fort Over nearly two decades, Fort has additional capacity to accept Huachuca has managed to reduce new missions or expand existing its groundwater pumping by ones to serve the nation’s defense. over two-thirds, while regional recharge projects funnel billions Nationally Recognized Community Support

Fort Huachuca’s close partnership with the Sierra Vista community has earned several national accolades. With key public and private partnerships, the community has helped the Fort exceed its federal environmental requirements, reduce its operational expenditures, and ensure soldiers and their families are well supported. This has garnered the attention of the Association of Defense Communities, leading to Sierra Vista being inducted into the ADC’s Great American Defense Communities Class of 2017. The City of Sierra Vista also received the ADC’s Community Excellence Award in 2016 and Fort Huachuca was named the association’s Installation of the Year in 2012.

Notable Facts About Fort Huachuca

++The Electronic Proving Grounds is the only Search ++ Reduced its groundwater pumping by over and Rescue (SARSAT) GPS testing site in the two-thirds, helping to ensure it has room to Western hemisphere. grow its key military missions. ++Only place in the U.S. that can conduct high power, ++ Designated as a Sentinel Landscape by the full frequency spectrum jamming as part of the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, and critical cyber warfare testing mission. the Interior in 2015, aiding efforts to protect natural resources vital to military missions ++ Provides the only high altitude dirt assault strip and wildlife alike. location in the country. There are also four high altitude parachute drop zones for training. ++ High altitude and mountainous terrain capable of training up to 8,600 feet with 60,000 acres ++ Home of Army Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) of training areas. training on multiple systems. ++Center for the Department of Defense’s Advanced Joint Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Training. Arizona ++ Supports a 2,500 square mile electronic range complex with a non-transferable frequency coordination zone protected by federal mandate. ++Over 964 square miles of restricted airspace that DISTANCE TO: ranges from the surface to 30,000 feet. Phoenix....189 miles ++ Proximity to the border ensures location is strategic Tucson...... 75 miles advantage for operations with Homeland Security Nogales...... 63 miles Douglas...... 51 miles and other federal agencies. ++The 12,000 foot runway of Libby Army Airfield provides a location to land any type of military Sierra Vista or civilian aircraft.

CITY OF SIERRA VISTA 1011 N. Coronado Drive | Sierra Vista, Arizona 85635 | (520) 439-2184

Produced by the City of Sierra Vista Public Affairs Office 05/17 1000