In a recent legislative hearing held by the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, key discussions centered around the importance of extending land withdrawals for military training at three critical locations: Fort Wainwright in Alaska, Fort Bliss in Texas, and Fort Irwin in California. Brigadier General David Zinn, the director of training for the Army, emphasized that these land withdrawals encompass approximately 1.6 million acres essential for maintaining the readiness of U.S. Army forces.

General Zinn highlighted the unique training environments provided by each location. Fort Wainwright, with its 870,000 acres, is crucial for conducting large-scale training in Arctic conditions, which cannot be replicated elsewhere. The loss of this land would significantly impair the Army's ability to prepare soldiers for operations in extreme cold weather.

At Fort Bliss, the 600,000 acres of McGregor Range are vital for armored and mechanized units, as well as for conducting live fire exercises with the Patriot missile system. This site also serves as a major mobilization point for National Guard and reserve units, making its continued access critical for national defense readiness.

The National Training Center at Fort Irwin, covering approximately 117,000 acres, is the Army's premier site for training armored and mechanized forces. The loss of access to this land would hinder essential training in logistics, resupply, and communications, which are necessary for effective military operations.

General Zinn concluded that failing to extend these land withdrawals would jeopardize the Army's operational readiness and diminish its strategic advantages over adversaries. The discussions underscored the critical nature of these training lands for the U.S. military's preparedness in diverse and challenging environments.

The hearing also included input from Mike Caldwell, associate director at the National Park Service, who presented the Department of the Interior's views on four of the bills under consideration. As the committee continues to deliberate on these legislative measures, the implications for military readiness and environmental stewardship remain at the forefront of discussions.