Range Control

Range Management

OIC/RSO Briefing - **Click here for Print Version **
To schedule an OIC/RSO Brief for your unit, please contact 1SG Rodriguez, (208)272-4444.

The Orchard Training Area is approximately 138,050 acres.

Divided as follows:
(1) Maneuver area – 72,750 acres.
(2) Impact area – 65,300 acres.

This area is designated as a restricted firing area through a Joint Airspace Use Agreement between the Idaho Army National Guard and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The airspace is protected only during those times when scheduled range firing is being conducted. During non –firing periods, the airspace is released to the FAA for general aeronautical use.


Guidelines for Safety Certification Programs.

Each brigade/battalion size unit will establish and conduct a program of instruction designed to train personnel in the duties of Range Officer in Charge/Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, (OIC/NCOIC) and Range Safety Officer (RSO) for the weapons systems for which they are involved. These personnel must have satisfactorily completed some form of formal instruction (OBC, AIT, TCGST, etc.) on the weapon system in which they will be an OIC or RSO.

a. Unit commanders, Range OIC’s/NCOIC’s and Range Safety Officers are responsible for compliance with the safety requirements of this regulation, AR 385-63, and applicable TM’s and FM’s.

b. When all requirements of the Battalion safety program are met the BN CDR on a safety Certification Memorandum (see App. B), certifies all OIC and RSO’s of the firing unit.

c. Units not having a Battalion command must obtain certification from an O-5 or higher within their chain of command.

d. The safety certification memorandum will be sent to the Range Control prior to scheduling the OIC/RSO brief.

e. Prior to range operations, personnel designated as OIC/RSO will receive a Range OIC/RSO Safety Briefing from Range Control. This Briefing is valid for one calendar year.

f. The Range Control Officer has authority to grant a temporary OIC/RSO certification (24 hours).

g. The Range Control Officer has authority to revoke certification of any OIC or RSO for violating the requirements of AR 385-63 or this regulation.


Risk Management

Risk management is a unit leadership responsibility. Range Control personnel serve as an excellent resource to help identify trends and potential hazards.

a. Risk management is a five-step process, which must be conducted in conjunction with the planning process. The Five steps are:

(1) Hazard Identification. Make a list of the potential hazards that could lead to an accident and or injury.

(2) Risk assessment. Determine the probability and severity of the potential risks.

(3) Risk Control Options and Decision-Making. Starting with the most serious tasks, determine what can be done to reduce or eliminate the potential hazard. Decisions should be made at the appropriate level in the chain of command.

(4) Implement controls. Put the controls in place whether they are physical controls, prerequisite training, or changes to unit SOP.

(5) Supervise. Assure that the selected risk control measures are effectively in place and maintained at all levels.


Daily Range Conferences

During Annual Training periods, the Annual Training Site staff will conduct daily range conferences with the training unit to insure that training requirements are resourced. Range conferences should be held at the training unit headquarters location at a time and place that is mutually acceptable for all parties.

a. The range conference is to review training requirements, communicate training needs, and compliance violations between the training unit and the Annual Training Site Staff. The following items will be discussed at the daily conference:

(1) Ranges: Occupation times, weapons used, type of training and clearing times.

(2) Firing Points: Occupation times, weapons used, type of training and clearing times.

(3) Maneuver Areas: Occupation times, environmental concerns, fire hazard conditions, type of training, and clearing time.

(4) Special Activities (Demolitions): Times and locations of training, operations coordination, and clearance times.

(5) Safety and overall environmental concerns.

(6) Range management input worksheet (350-R), will be turned in daily at this meeting.

b. Training units are responsible to ensure that representatives attending this conference will meet the following criteria.

(1) Knowledgeable in specific nature of training planned or conducted.

(2) Authorized to make decisions affecting training plans.


Site Selection

All major training areas, such as combat trains, field trains, unit maintenance collection points, command posts, assembly areas, and training lanes, must be approved by the Annual Training Site in conjunction with the Environmental Management Office (EMO) prior to the unit training. Procedures for requesting these areas are outlined in Chapter 7 of this regulation.


Hearing Protection

Commanders at all levels are responsible for implementing the required hearing protection IAW AR 40-5. Vehicle Movements.

IDARNG Form 88-R, Road Movement tables, (See App B) will be submitted to Range Control for approval. Approved movement tables are required for all tracked vehicles and when three or more wheeled vehicles move to and from the Orchard Training Area. There will be a minimum of two qualified soldiers in each tracked vehicle; the track commander and the driver with CVC’s and intercom communications. A IDARNG 88-R is not required for inside the GFTA but will be coordinated through Range Control.

a. Service drive lights, on all vehicles, will be on at ALL times while on Range Road. Exceptions must be requested in writing to the Range Officer for approval prior to the event.

b. M1 series tanks moving to and from the GFTA on the tank trail will have the turret unlocked and the main gun out of travel lock. The gun tube will either be over the front slope or over the rear deck, with the turret power on. At no time will the main-gun extend left or right of the track/fender areas while on Range Road/Pleasant Valley Road without prior approval of the Range Officer.

c. Radio antennas on vehicles will be tied down when operating on Gowen Field and or near any power lines.

d. Speed limits are established as follows:

(1) Tracked vehicles: 25 miles per hour (MPH) or the posted speed, whichever is lower.

(2) Wheeled Vehicles:

a. Pleasant Valley Road from Gowen Road to the railroad tracks: AS POSTED.

b. From the railroad tracks on Pleasant valley road: 2 ½ ton and above 25 MPH maximum. All other vehicles 35 MPH maximum.

c. Gowen Road to I-84: As Posted.

d. Orchard Road south from the Stage Stop to the MATES site: 50 MPH maximum.

e. End of pavement at MATES to OTA entrance: 2 ½ ton and above 25 MPH maximum. All others 35 MPH maximum.

f. Orchard Training Area (Range Road) wheeled vehicles: 2 ½ ton and above 25 MPH maximum. All others 35 MPH maximum. Tracked Vehicles: 25 MPH maximum.

g. No road movement is permitted on the Pleasant Valley Tank Trail after 2200 hours and prior to 0800 hours.


Road Guards

At least two road guards with reflective vests and traffic control flashlights are required during convoy operations at each of the following locations.

a. Grid NT 62682232 (crossing at Gowen Road between Gate 13 and the hard stand).

b. Grid NT 62121872 (where tank trail crosses Pleasant Valley Road at the bottom of the hill, approximately four kilometers south of Gowen Field).

c. Grid NT 62121728 (where tank trail crosses Pleasant Valley Road at the top of prison ridge approximately five kilometers south of Gowen Field.

d. Grid NT 62180792 (Pleasant Valley and Kuna/Mora Road intersection).

e. Grid NT 62180792 (Pleasant Valley and Union Pacific Railroad track intersection).


Blackout Drive Driving

Blackout driving conditions in the OTA are defined as movement at night without white lights.

a. Units involved in a blackout move are responsible for establishing manned traffic control points along the blackout route (intersections, tank trail crossings, etc.) to prevent other vehicles (military and civilian) from interfering with the blackout convoy.

b. Blackout driving is allowed only within the confines of the OTA. Movements on Pleasant Valley Road between Gowen Field and the north boundary of the training area will be administrative moves and vehicle lights will be turned on.


Privately Owned Vehicles (POV)

Privately owned vehicles are not allowed in the Orchard Training Area.

a. Rental cars that are used in support of training in the Orchard Training Area, may be allowed with prior approval from the DPT-M. Rental cars are allowed in the Gowen Field Training Area only with a vehicle pass from Bldg 669 Gowen Field Range Control Office.

b. Government Services Agency (GSA) vehicles are authorized in the Orchard Training Area and require a vehicle pass from Range Control.


Airborne Operations

Units conducting airborne operations must provide the (DPT-M) with a memorandum appointing Jump Masters and Drop Zone Safety Officers (DZSO). The unit conducting the airborne exercise is responsible for having the supporting aircraft headquarters request the airspace from the ARNG Training Site ATTN: IDAT-RR.

a. Prior to utilization of any DZ, the DZSO will coordinate an opening and closing time with Range Control. The DZSO will maintain radio (FM) communications with Gowen Field Range Control during all active airborne operations utilizing a DZ. The following information is required when entering the Gowen Field Range Control radio net:

(1) Name, Rank, and Unit of DZSO.

(2) DZ, type aircraft, number of passes, and numbers of drops (equipment or personnel).

b. Vehicles other than those required for control purposes will not be permitted on the active DZ immediately proceeding or during a parachute drop.

c. Ambulances will be permitted in the DZ after all parachutists have landed.

d. The DZSO is responsible for spectator control on and in the immediate vicinity of the DZ.

e. At the completion of the activity, the DZSO will close the DZ with Gowen Field Range Control and give all requested information prior to discontinuing communications.

f. The DZSO will be responsible for the policing of the drop zone and spectator area and removal of all aerial delivery system (e.g., platforms, bundles, webbing, trash, etc.) prior to clearing of the drop zone. US Air Force Joint Air Attack Training/Aerial Reconnaissance Operations (USAF JAAT): Aerial reconnaissance by aircraft is the only USAF JAAT training that is authorized in the Orchard Training Area. Requests for this type of training must be coordinated with Range Control NLT 30 days prior to anticipated training.


Remote Operated Aircraft (ROA)/Unmanned Ariel Vehicle (UAV)

Units that utilize ROA/UAV systems will request airspace through Gowen Field Range Control. This request must be received NLT 48 hours prior to employment of the above systems.


Impact Area Control

The control and management of the impact area is the responsibility of Gowen Field Range Control. Unit personnel entering the impact area are restricted to established gunnery ranges.

a. All impact area entries and departures for administrative purposes; (i.e., target emplacement, target repairs, range sweeps, etc.,) will be requested from Gowen Field Range Control prior to entry. No one will enter the impact area without prior permission from Gowen Field Range Control. Entry reports will include OIC/NCOIC of the detail, unit, number of personnel involved, range to be entered, purpose, approximate time to complete mission, and mode of transport. Departure reports will include clearance of all personnel and equipment. The Officer in Charge (OIC) or Range Safety Officer (RSO) will make entry and exit reports on a DA Form 1594.

b. No target material of any nature will be placed in the impact area without the specific approval of the Range Officer. No glass, reflective metal, or other laser reflecting materials will be placed or used as target material in the impact area.

c. As a general policy, Mission Training and Evaluation Program (MTEP) and force-on-force maneuvers will not be conducted within the impact area. Approval authority for exceptions to this policy is the Commanding General, IDARNG.