A sprawling complex of military training ranges surrounding the
Chesapeake region, in Maryland and Virginia, has enabled increased
inter-service cooperation, not only for joint training, but also
for cooperative research, development and testing activities.
In 1995, the Atlantic Test Ranges component of the Naval Air Warfare
Center Aircraft Division of the Naval Air Systems Command, in Patuxent
River, Md., began exploring the feasibility of using its research,
development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) complex to enhance
naval aviation training through dialogue with the staffs of the
Naval Air Forces Atlantic and the Atlantic Fleet.
By the end of 1996, the scope of this effort expanded to include
not only naval and Marine Corps training, but also U.S. Army and
Air Force training. Also in 1996, the Army’s Aberdeen Test
Center, in Maryland, and Fort A.P. Hill, in Virginia, were asked
to join what later came to be known as the Chesapeake Regional Ranges
Cooperative (CRRC).
The CRRC originally was designed to provide training support to
joint operational forces. The synergy between these diverse organizations,
meanwhile, led to other cooperative efforts. Members benefited from
each other’s resources and capabilities. The CRRC then began
providing test support, in addition to training services. To meet
emerging Defense Department requirements for joint experimentation
and interoperability testing, the CRRC expanded its goals and objectives.
The CRRC supports joint forces throughout the Atlantic region through
traditional acquisition and specialized training support. Examples
include the Navy-Air Force aerial mining exercises (MINEX), unique
training for Special Forces and training for Combined Joint Task
Force Exercises (CJTFEX).
Recently, the CRRC forged a relationship with the Joint Gulf Range
Complex, which consists of ranges and facilities on or near the
Gulf of Mexico. JGRC members include the Air Force Air Armaments
Center, the Air Force 46th Test Wing, the Navy’s Coastal Systems
Station Panama City, and the Army Aviation and Missile Command.
The CRRC and the JGRC have combined their resources to form the
Joint Atlantic and Gulf Regional Ranges Cooperative. This partnership
coincides with Defense Department initiatives—sponsored by
the director of operational test and evaluation and the undersecretary
of defense for personnel and readiness—that aim to increase
the cross-service use of testing and training ranges.
Member Organizations
The CRRC membership now consists of the following organizations:
• Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Code N7, Norfolk,
Va.
• Naval Air Systems Command, Atlantic Ranges and Facilities,
Patuxent River, Md.
• U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center, Aberdeen Proving Ground,
Md.
• U.S. Army Garrison, Fort A.P. Hill, Bowling Green, Va.
• Naval Sea Systems Command, Combat Direction Systems Activity,
Dam Neck, Va.
• Joint Interoperability Test Command, Washington Operations
Division, Indian Head, Md.
The Chesapeake cooperative also supports the Maryland National
Guard and the NASA Wallops Flight Center, for training and RDT&E
activities.
The Naval Air Systems Command’s Atlantic Ranges and Facilities
constitute a major range and test facility base (MRTFB) organization.
It operates and maintains a world-class test and evaluation infrastructure
in support of naval aviation acquisition programs. Most notable
are the Atlantic Test Ranges, a high-tech open-air range facility,
and the Air Combat Environment Test and Evaluation Facility, a model
and simulation-based installed systems test facility.
The Atlantic Ranges and Facilities’ capabilities include
real-time connectivity to the Fleet Area Control and Surveillance
Facility, Virginia Capes, and the NASA Wallops Flight Center. They
also offer tracking instrumentation (fixed and portable), real-time
telemetry processing and display (fixed and portable), targets diversity
(fixed and portable), mobile integrated air defense system simulators
and range support aircraft.
The Atlantic Test Ranges’ special-use restricted airspace
and water space cover approximately 2,400 square miles. The Naval
Air Systems Command has fully instrumented and integrated flight
test/training ranges.
The Aberdeen Test Center is one of the most diverse and rigorous
test sites in the Defense Department, and is also an MRTFB. The
facilities are used to test military weapons systems and equipment
including armored vehicles, guns, ammunition, trucks, bridges, generators,
night vision devices, individual equipment (boots, uniforms, helmets,
etc.) and surface and underwater naval systems.
As a multi-purpose proving ground, with a moderate climate, its
primary mission is to plan, conduct, analyze and report on projects
supporting all phases of weapons development and acquisition including
surveillance and operational tests for the Defense Department and
other government agencies, foreign governments, as well as private
industry.
The facilities feature tank and gunnery ranges, small arms ranges,
underwater explosion test sites, accelerated corrosion test sites,
moving target simulation areas, and dedicated bridge sites with
dry and wet gaps to test various types of tactical and assault bridges.
Fort A.P. Hill is one of the largest ground/air training installations
on the East Coast. Since World War II, its 76,000 acres of ranges
and maneuver areas have been used by U.S. forces to prepare for
every major deployment. The facility can accommodate joint and combined
arms training activities. Fort A.P. Hill has more than 30 separate
training facilities that include infantry lanes, drop zones and
assault landing strips. The 27,000-acre live-fire range complex
is composed of 40 direct firing ranges, 15 demolition sites and
50 indirect firing positions.
The Computerized Infantry Squad Battle Course was the active Army’s
first in the continental United States. The new 7,000-meter multi-purpose
range features the latest in radio-controlled targets and computer
scoring.
The Naval Sea Systems Command’s Combat Direction Systems
Activity supports programs that are related to carrier, amphibious,
frigate, and non-Aegis destroyer combat direction systems, advanced
sensor distribution systems, command-and-control systems and electronic
intelligence systems.
CDSA’s specialized services include software development,
system test, training, logistics support, process improvement, assessments,
consultation, acquisition support and management support to operational
forces. The facility has a high-performance computing center, a
multi-functional land-based test site, live radar support, a collaborative
engineering center and connectivity to the Navy’s Distributed
Engineering Plant.
In 1997, the CDSA was the first Navy activity to become an authorized
Software Engineering Institute (SEI) Capability Maturity Model (CMM)
Level III organization.
In May 2002, the JITC Washington Operations Division, Indian Head,
Md., became the newest member of the CRRC. As designated by the
Joint Staff, JITC is the Defense Department’s sole program
certifier of joint interoperability. JITC also is the operational
test agency for the Defense Information Systems Agency and reports
directly to the DISA principal director for interoperability.
JITC is an MRTFB, which means it can extend their test resources
and certification processes to other federal government agencies,
the private sector and U.S. allies.
The JITC Washington Operations Division evaluates and certifies
critical national security systems and information technology systems
onsite at the Indian Head facility, and offsite when testing at
a distant location is required. The Indian Head site has more than
30 laboratories and test-beds for programs such as the Defense Message
System, Global Command and Control System, information assurance,
intelligence, the Advance Technologies Test-bed and the Command
Test Center. During exercises and operational contingencies, JITC
offers technical expertise to both U.S. and coalition forces.
As a member of the CRRC, JITC will assist program managers and
the acquisition community in the Chesapeake region.
Chris Watson is an information systems project officer at the Joint
Interoperability Test Command. His e-mail address is watson1c@ncr.disa.mil.