The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday to celebrate the start of construction for the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center-Elmendorf at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.
In a Friday press release, the U.S. Army announced that Joint Integrated Test and Training Center-Elmendorf will be a “leading-edge facility” that will increase military readiness and interoperability.
According to the press release, the new training center in Alaska will simulate “realistic combat across all domains” by including a combination of constructive and virtual elements. Stars and Stripes reported that in addition to simulating combat training on land, in the air, in the sea, and in space, the training center will also provide cyber warfare training.
Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham, commander of the 11th Air Force and Alaskan Command, explained that the new training center will “play a pivotal role in maintaining our competitive edge by enabling our forces to test and refine tactics, techniques and procedures against the most advanced threats.”
“It will also help us sustain the warrior ethos that defines our armed forces by cultivating the mindset, discipline and excellence required to prevail in any conflict,” Cunningham added.
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Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, the Alaska District commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, described Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony as a representation of a “significant investment” in the country’s national defense capabilities.
Palazzini explained that the new training center is designed to prepare military assets for “Night-1” of a potential conflict in “high-threat scenarios.”
“Together with our partners at the Air Force, congressional delegation and contractor, we begin constructing a quality project, safely, for our service members and partners so they can execute their critical mission of ensuring security in the Indo-Pacific and Arctic regions,” Palazzini stated.
The Army confirmed that the new training center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is expected to be completed by the fall of 2029. In Friday’s press release, the Army emphasized that Joint Integrated Test and Training Center-Elmendorf will help solidify Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson as a “strategic hub for national defense and homeland security.”
