Fort Irwin

• Desert Beginnings: Fort Irwin was originally established as the Mojave Anti-Aircraft Gunnery Range in 1940, chosen for its vast, remote desert terrain ideal for military training. • Namesake: The fort is named after Captain George LeRoy Irwin, an artillery officer killed in France during World War I. • National Training Center (NTC): In 1981, Fort Irwin became home to the National Training Center, the U.S. Army’s premier training facility for large-scale, realistic force-on-force combat exercises. • Mock Cities: The NTC features elaborate mock towns and villages, complete with role-players and pyrotechnics, to simulate urban warfare and train soldiers for real-world scenarios. • Cold War Testing: During the Cold War, Fort Irwin was used to test top-secret weapons systems and tactics, including air defense missiles and armored vehicles. • Space Shuttle Emergency Landing Site: The Fort Irwin airfield was designated an alternate landing site for the Space Shuttle program due to its long runways and remote location. • Environmental Stewardship: Fort Irwin is home to several endangered species, including the desert tortoise, and has implemented extensive conservation programs to protect native wildlife. • Ghost Town Nearby: The historic ghost town of Calico is located near Fort Irwin, offering soldiers and families a glimpse into California's mining past. • Realistic Opposing Forces (OPFOR): The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment serves as the "enemy" during training exercises, using Soviet and other foreign tactics and vehicles to challenge U.S. units. • Hollywood Connections: Fort Irwin has been used as a filming location for various movies and TV shows, thanks to its unique desert landscape and military infrastructure.