An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Oct. 28, 2024

Arizona Air Guard Opens New High-Tech Indoor Firing Range

By Master Sgt. Michael Matkin, 161st Air Refueling Wing

PHOENIX - The opening ceremony for the 161st Air Refueling Wing’s new high-tech indoor firing range was held Oct. 25 at Goldwater Air National Guard Base.

Maj. Gen. Kerry L. Muehlenbeck, the adjutant general of Arizona and director of the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs; Col. Jessica L. Hastings, commander of the 161st Air Refueling Wing; members of the National Guard Bureau, local law enforcement and other guests attended the ribbon-cutting.

Construction of the range at Goldwater ANG was conceptualized more than five years ago, said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Robertson, 161st Security Forces commander. He noted that it took the cooperation of many base agencies, including service members from the contracting team, the Civil Engineer Squadron and the NGB to bring the range to fruition.

The fully contained 14-lane indoor range enables Airmen to complete weapons qualification without traveling more than 55 miles to the Florence Military Reservation Training Site, saving time and travel expenses. It also protects against heat-related injuries, as temperatures at the outdoor range can exceed 100 degrees. 

The range features simulated barricades that Airmen use to train for defensive situations, providing cover and stabilization. Airmen can live-fire the M18, M4, and M870 weapon systems at a maximum distance of 25 meters.

“So many people standing in this room have had this in the back of their minds forever,” said Robertson. “Their work — their time — spent with other agencies to try to get this off the ground has been incredible. I’m so happy that they’re going to see a final product and be able to train in it.”

He said the contractors built a facility worthy of the less than 1 percent of the population who serve.

“This will put weapons into warfighters’ hands, which is exactly what the Air Force is pushing for,” said Robertson. “For the Airmen who are about to shoot and train in here, it’s going to be a game changer. It’s a force multiplier.”

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air National Guard Lt. Col. Kevin Maskell, a dentist assigned to the Arizona Air National Guard 162nd Wing, examines a patient during Kodiac Arctic Care 24 in Kodiak, Alaska, May 9, 2024. U.S. Uniformed Services personnel joined Kodiak Arctic Care under the Innovative Readiness Training program, which partnered with the Kodiak Area Native Association to deliver free medical, dental optometry, and veterinary services on Alaska's remote Kodiak Island.
Air Guard, Reserve Medics Help Clear Recruiting Bottleneck
By Tech. Sgt. Sarah McClanahan, | Feb. 26, 2025
FALLS CHURCH, Va. - Thirty-five Air National Guard and 10 Reserve component Airmen executed a surge initiative to address severe backlogs at military entrance processing stations across the United States throughout 2024. This...

U.S. Air National Guard Defenders assigned to the 162nd Wing are welcomed home by friends and family at Tucson International Airport, Oct. 13, 2024, after a six-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility.
Arizona Air Guard Defenders Return From Kuwait Deployment
By Senior Airman Guadalupe Beltran, | Oct. 25, 2024
MORRIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ariz.- More than a dozen Airmen from the 162nd Wing Security Forces Squadron returned home after a six-month deployment to Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, where they supported combat power of...

An Arizona Army National Guard Soldier helps a child into a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Aug. 24, 2024, at the Havasupai Indian Reservation. More than 100 people were evacuated out of the canyon after flood waters impacted the Havasupai community and tourists visiting Havasupai Falls.
Arizona National Guard Rescues 104 People from Flooding
By Maj. Erin Hannigan, | Aug. 26, 2024
PHOENIX - An Arizona Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew evacuated 104 Havasupai tribal community members and tourists from Supai village in a flood-response mission Aug. 23-24.“State missions are what we are...