Stand-to! update Beginning May 2022, STAND-TO! will no longer be published on Army.mil and/or distributed to its subscribers. Please continue to learn about the U.S. Army on www.army.mil and follow @USArmy on our social media platforms. Thank you for your continued interest in learning about the U.S. Army.

Operational Range Assessments: Ensuring Range Sustainability for the Army

Thursday August 1, 2013

What is it?

The Department of Defense proactively initiated the Operational Range Assessments as a part of its range sustainability initiatives. ORAs determine and respond to munitions-related releases, such as metals and explosives, that might impact nearby communities or ecological systems. The Army National Guard incorporated Range Best Management Practices identification as an inherent part its ORA to ensure ranges remain available for training now and into the future.

What has the Army National Guard done?

The ARNG Environmental Division and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are conducting ORAs and range best management practices evaluations at all ARNG installations within the U.S. and its territories. This will meet the requirements of Department of Defense Directive 4715.11 and will support the U.S. Army Sustainable Range Program.

The ARNG Environmental Division and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are conducting ORAs and range BMPs evaluations at all ARNG installations within the U.S. and its territories. This will meet the requirements of Department of Defense Directive 4715.11 and will support the U.S. Army Sustainable Range Program.

The ARNG has taken the lead in developing a tool that all Army installations can utilize to improve the environmental performance of its operational ranges. The ARNG Environmental Division, in consultation with ARNG-Training Support Division, developed an easy-to-use software package, called the Reference Tool: Range Best Management Practices. This will assist range managers with environmental sustainment of operational ranges. It provides installations with a series of fact sheets”one for each range sustainment method (e.g. vegetation management practices; low-water stream crossings). Hyperlinks in the Reference Tool facilitate implementation by providing the technical reference documents. Thus, range managers and engineers identify and implement site-specific solutions ensuring long-term range sustainability.

What is planned for the future?

ARNG Environmental Division will continue to periodically conduct ORAs and to re-evaluate implemented BMPs to determine their suitability for range sustainment. Each installation that undergoes an ORA receives the new Reference Tool, along with a guidance letter identifying which techniques work best for particular range types. This tool will also be shared with other Army components.

Why is this important to the Army?

Sustaining the training land is essential to operational readiness. Providing tools and guidance to installations on available techniques ensures that the Army can continue current realistic and effective training, while protecting the natural environment and resources for future training. Additionally, it is the Army’s responsibility to be good stewards and good neighbors in communities where the ranges are located.

Resources:

Subscribe to STAND-TO! to learn about the U.S. Army initiatives.