(Capt Emerson Marcus) – The Nevada National Guard is set to host a groundbreaking ceremony at noon Friday, Dec. 5, to mark the start of construction on the Nevada Army National Guard Qualification Training Range.
U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen and Rep. Mark Amodei and Nevada Land Component Commander, Brig. Gen. Randy I. Lau, are set to attend. When completed, the range will become the only Department of the Army approved qualification range in the state of Nevada.
What: Groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the Nevada Army National Guard Qualification Training Range.
When: 11:45 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5
Where: Freedom Range Complex (approx. 2.25 north on U.S. 95 ALT off the HWAD main gate). Searchable as Freedom Range Babbitt NV on Google Maps.
Media: To RSVP or for information, contact Capt. Emerson Marcus, 702-265-6301 or emerson.marcus@us.af.mil.
The new range will allow Nevada Soldiers to meet military marksmanship standards without having to leave the state — finally giving Nevada Soldiers access to an in-state Army weapon qualification range that meets Army requisites.
Since 2019, the Nevada Army Guard has sent more than 1,000 Soldiers to neighboring states annually for marksmanship qualifying, incurring substantial costs for travel, lodging and meals.
Units spend up to four training days annually qualifying at out-of-state ranges. The four days equated to more than 15 percent of the unit’s allocated training days and significantly impacted the Soldiers’ ability to train on other tasks.
The new $20 million Hawthorne Army Depot Record Fire Range facility will include 16 lanes for rifle training, 15 for pistol, four machine gun lanes (up to M240) and seven buildings. Four full-time U.S. Army, federal employees will maintain operations at the range.
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