OCTOBER 1, 2025 – The U.S. Army currently leads Joint Task Force (JTF) Southern Border to assist U.S. Customs and Border Protection with border security.
Though U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) hasn’t housed troops for an extended length of time, the post’s Training and Exercise Management Office (TEMO) has been facilitating training for Soldiers involved in the JTF’s operations.
“YPG wasn’t a realistic location for them to billet on a long-term basis because we don’t have mess halls and other facilities conventionally associated with an Army post,” said Luis Arroyo, TEMO chief. “YPG’s primary mission is conducting developmental testing of military equipment with a largely civilian workforce.”
Deployed earlier this year to the Customs and Border Protection’s Tucson sector in support of Joint Task Force Southern Border, the 2nd Infantry Division’s 212th Stryker Brigade, typically stationed at Fort Carson, Colo. recently accomplished a full week of live fire training here that included simulated medical evacuations.
“This is a great opportunity for them to get some hands-on experience,” said David Dupuis, TEMO exercise coordinator. “They brought their field mess hall and line hauled their vehicles on tractor trailers.”
The overwhelming majority of YPG’s workforce plays some role in developmental testing of equipment for troops. Nonetheless, in recent years well over 100 units have utilized the post for training purposes, including multi-week stays in the proving ground’s elaborate forward operating base.
When they needed somewhere to accomplish training while deployed in support of border operations, the 212th Stryker Battalion turned to YPG.
“In Arizona itself there is limited training capability for large-scale combat operations for Army ground units,” said Maj. Eliot Corey, operations officer for the battalion. “We took a couple of meetings with Mr. Arroyo and his team and they were on board to supporting anything we asked for. It’s been excellent, with top notch support.”
The same aspects that make YPG an ideal place for tough natural environment testing of weapons and equipment also have applicability to training.
“The environment is unforgiving and stresses systems,” said Corey. “The terrain is difficult as well: you almost have to use satellite communication because the terrain is so rough. It’s been a good experience for the whole team.”
YPG’s vast size allowed for live fire training using both 120 mm mortars and M2 .50 caliber machine guns during simulations of a convoy attack, all without disrupting tests of military equipment in progress elsewhere on the range.
“This is the best range control I’ve ever worked with,” said 1st Lt. Andrew Rodgers, Fire Support Officer. “They’re very reasonable and understanding and make things very simple. They gave us a lot of good advice and definitely set us up for success.”
Story by Mark Schauer
U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground