The Oregon National Guard and the US Navy have broken ground on a $12-million Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range at the Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility in Boardman.
The initiative kickstarts the inaugural US Army-standard crew-served weapons range for the Oregon National Guard in the region, concluding an effort that began more than two decades ago.
Originating from a licensing agreement between the US Army, US Navy, and Oregon Military Department, the project required a six-and-a-half-year environmental review and more than 1,400 pages of paperwork.
Construction is expected to conclude in 2027, followed by a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony the same year.
Once operational, the 10-lane facility will enable warfighters to qualify locally on the M240 7.62mm machine gun, M2 12.7mm machine gun, and the MK19 40mm grenade launcher rather than traveling to out-of-state installations in Yakima, Washington, or Boise, Idaho.
The site will be managed by Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island in Washington, and is also expected to deliver screenings tied to US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon and its 6.8mm ammunition.
“Today, we aren’t just turning dirt; we are laying the foundation for the future of our tactical readiness,” said Cmdr. Joshua Overn, executive officer of NAS Whidbey Island and the US Navy’s Northwest Training Range Complex.
