Military bases in Utah include Camp W.G. Williams, Tooele Army Depot, Dugway Proving Ground, Hill Air Force Base and more. Utah is a beautiful state with with diverse landscape ranging from desert to mountains. Utah is a wonderful place to visit and live.
Locations of Military Bases in Utah
Camp W.G. Williams
Camp Williams is one of 4 military bases in Utah that we will talk about. It is a military training ground established by the Utah National Guard. However, many other branches benefit from all this training facility has to offer as well. Several different military branches, including the Army, Air Force, and Marines have used Camp Williams for training. This facility has even been used for Reserve forces and FBI training.
Part of Camp Williams appeal is its mountain terrain. Of the 53 miles that make up the camp, only about six miles are flat ground. This gives patrons excellent hands-on experience in mountainous territory. The dry desert climate naturally subject to seasonal conditions also provides cold training. Nearly all training can be covered in this location, though at times patrons may visit the camp’s sister site, Dugway Proving Ground.
In addition, this site has several firing ranges and areas for artillery and grenade training. Although some of the land has been heavily degraded due to the overgrazing cattle of early settlers, Camp Williams still takes precautions to ensure fire safety in the wake of all these activities. Interestingly, one of their less conventional methods has been employing goats to graze in areas with vegetation that’s particularly susceptible to fire.
Camp Williams has proven itself as a unique and highly effective training facility in Utah, and will for years to come.
Tooele Army Depot
The Tooele Army Depot mainly functions as a storage facility. It began in the early 1940s, providing much-needed storage for WWII efforts. This site covers a vast area of 23,732 acres, housing ammunition and equipment. It is also responsible for demilitarizing munitions for the Department of Defense. Today, most of the employees are civilians, though it is still headed by military personnel.
Dugway Proving Ground
Dugway Proving Ground is another Army facility located in Tooele County, about an hour’s drive south of Tooele Army Depot. This site is charged with the responsibility to test and evaluate a range of chemicals and defense material for the Department of Defense and other military branches. It’s a large area, covering roughly the same amount of surface space as Rhode Island, yet the nearby town of Dugway has a small population of only 2,000 people.
Dugway Proving Grounds sprung up in the early 1940’s as a response to World War II. The attacks on Pearl Harbor struck US leaders with a sense of urgency to develop and test new forms of weaponry and defense. Since then, it has gone through periods of inactivity, but today it is once again functioning to the fullest.
Hill Air Force Base
Hill Air Force Base began in the 1930’s as part of an Army Air Corps mailing program, but once World War II began its functions quickly changed. It became a vital source of supplies and storage throughout the war, and only continued to serve the American public afterwards. From the Korean War to Operation Desert Shield, the Hill Air Force Base was storing, preparing, maintaining, and shipping out equipment.
Unlike some bases that experience long periods of inactivity, Hill Air Force Base has only been growing, and it currently ranks as the sixth largest employer in the state of Utah. It’s located in the northern region of the state near the city of Roy. This base played a key role in Utah history, military history, and American history. There is no doubt that it will continue to do so going forward.
Leave a Reply
We value your privacy. Your email is safe with us.