U.S. services to train jointly in Chesapeake Range Complex.

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 (boors, 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 rests 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 rest 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 Departments 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 sire 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 [e-mail].