1.3
Arizona Army National Guard Importance
AZARNG Local, Regional, and Economic Importance
The Arizona Army National Guard and Silverbell Army Heliport account for over
3,350 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, generating over $865 million in economic impact
throughout the State of Arizona, according to the Military Affairs Commission 2017
Economic Impact of Arizona’s Principal Military Operations. As of May 2017, the AZARNG
consists of six major commands and has an assigned end‐strength of approximately
5,300 Soldiers who are trained and prepared for response to state and national
emergencies. It is not only important to support and protect AZARNG sites and training
capabilities because of the economic benefit they provide, but also to preserve their
capabilities to support local and regional communities during times of domestic and
national emergencies, wartime deployments, global humanitarian efforts, and other
needs.
Military Strategic Importance
Aside from being a significant economic generator for the region, AZARNG sites are a
strategic asset for the state’s and nation’s defense. Florence Military Reservation is the
AZARNG’s second largest training site. It provides important training environments for
Soldiers since its geography closely resembles that of Iraq and Afghanistan. Silverbell
Army Heliport houses the Western Army Aviation Training Site (WAATS). The WAATS
trains UH‐60 Black Hawk and UH‐72 Lakota Helicopter pilots from states east of the
Mississippi and from more than 12 different countries. The Royal Singapore Air Force
also has a facility at Silverbell Army Heliport for AH‐64 Apache Helicopter training.
Rittenhouse Training Site is a 480‐acre training site utilized mostly by black hawk pilots.
The training on Rittenhouse Training Site includes Bambi Bucket training, sling load
training, heavy load training, loading / unloading training etc. Picacho Peak Stagefield is
used by the pilots from SBAH to practice touch‐and‐goes, brown‐out training, landing,
and instrument training. Additional details on the AZARNG’s missions and activities in
Pinal County are described in Chapter 3, Arizona Army National Guard Profile.
1.4
Local Communities Working Together
The AZARNG contributes to the local community in more ways than through economic
benefits. Arizona Army National Guard personnel interact with the community through
actions both related to and independent of the military. Personnel from The Arizona
Army National Guard not only live in the local community, but also engage with the
community through volunteering. The AZARNG participates in a variety of community
events and activities throughout the year, including special events, parades, and
community outreach activities. In return, the local community participates in various
Background Report
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