Rittenhouse Training Site also serves as a maneuver and training area for light forces. It is
especially important in supporting pre‐mobilization field training exercises as it is easily
accessed by soldiers at Papago Military Reservation during ramp‐up activities in
preparation of deployment.
Future Missions
At the time of writing this JLUS, there were no future missions identified for Rittenhouse
Training Site. The U.S. Army Reserve has a desire to construct a Tactical Equipment
Maintenance Facility and Area Maintenance Support Activity on 20 acres of land at
Rittenhouse Training Site to support training activities at the site. This facility will provide
capabilities for inspecting, maintaining, servicing, and repairing equipment, as well as
provide a location to prepare and stage equipment for deployment and conduct mission
planning and rehearsals. The U.S. Army Reserve also wants to construct an estimated
20,000 square foot Readiness Center at the southwest corner of Rittenhouse Training
Site that would provide space for about 200 Soldiers to meet for training and education.
No final plans have been completed for these facilities.
Rittenhouse Training Site Mission Footprints
Rittenhouse Training Site’s overall operational footprint includes the following
components:
Sling Load Pattern
Bambi Bucket Pattern
Sling Load Pattern
During sling load training, Black Hawk helicopters fly clockwise in an oblong pattern north
and east of the helipad that is centrally located at the facility. The flight pattern forms an
approximately 33,100‐foot long loop over Pinal County and ASLD lands that are mostly
undeveloped and allows pilots to pick up loads on Rittenhouse Training Site and fly the
pattern to train in carrying and maneuvering the load. This goes roughly 3,000 feet north
and 8,100 feet east of Rittenhouse Training Site. The sling load flight pattern is illustrated
on Figure 3‐23.
Bambi Bucket Pattern
During Bambi Bucket training, Black Hawk helicopters fly clockwise in an oblong pattern
south and west of the helipad that is centrally located at the facility to reach the CAP
canal to the east and return. The flight pattern forms an approximately 20,300‐foot loop
over Pinal County and ASLD lands that are mostly undeveloped and allows pilots to
collect water from the canal and transport it back to Rittenhouse Training Site for further
training. This goes roughly 5,000 feet east of Rittenhouse Training Site. The Bambi
Bucket flight pattern is illustrated on Figure 3‐23.
Background Report
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