Camp Williams
| Camp W. G. Williams | |
|---|---|
| South of Riverton, Utah | |
.jpg) Soldiers from the 19th Special Forces Group conduct training at Camp Williams | |
| Coordinates | 40°26′15″N 111°55′32″W / 40.4375°N 111.9255°W |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Utah Army National Guard |
| Open to the public | No |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1928 |
| In use | 1928–present |
Camp W. G. Williams, commonly known as Camp Williams, also known as Army Garrison Camp Williams, is a National Guard training site operated by the Utah National Guard. It is located south of Bluffdale, west of Lehi, and north of Saratoga Springs and Cedar Fort, approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Salt Lake City, straddling the border between Salt Lake County and Utah County in the western portion of the Traverse Mountains. Camp Williams is also home to the Non-Commissioned Officer's Basic Leader Course, which is taught to Active, National Guard, and Reserve components.
Camp Williams land comprises about 6 square miles (16 km2) of flat area and 47 square miles (120 km2) of mountainous region.
History
[edit]The Utah Army National Guard traces its roots to the Utah Territorial Militia, known as the Nauvoo Legion, which operated under territorial law from 1847 until its dissolution by the Edmunds–Tucker Act of 1887. The Nauvoo Legion functioned similarly to other state militias, requiring service from adult males aged 18 to 45. The militia played critical roles in protecting settlers during conflicts such as the Utah War, Black Hawk War, and Walker War, often conducting annual musters and training exercises near what is now Camp Williams.[1]
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson designated 18,700 acres near the Jordan Narrows as permanent training grounds for military purposes. Although the land was rough and unsuitable for a cantonment, the state rented and later purchased nearby flatter land to establish training facilities.[2]
In 1926 and 1927, the Utah National Guard held its annual encampments at the site. In 1928, the camp was officially named Camp W.G. Williams in honor of Brigadier General William Grey Williams, recognizing his service since the Spanish–American War and efforts to secure the site as a permanent training location.[3]
During the interwar period, Camp Williams expanded its facilities to include mess halls, barracks, and training ranges, with significant federal funding covering construction and maintenance. By the late 1930s, the camp was equipped to support over 1,300 soldiers annually.[4]
World War II transformed the camp into a critical training site for the U.S. Army, hosting over 5,000 personnel for intensive combat preparation. The site was temporarily expanded with over 100 new buildings, including barracks and training facilities.[5]
In the postwar era, Camp Williams continued to serve as a central training site for the Utah National Guard. New developments, such as the addition of modern ranges, classrooms, and a swimming pool, supported growing training needs during the Korean War and subsequent Cold War period.[6]
Today, Camp W.G. Williams spans over 50 square miles, combining rugged terrain and modern facilities to provide comprehensive training environments for military and civilian agencies.[7]
Machine Gun Fire
[edit]
On September 19, 2010, a live-fire .50-caliber machine gun training exercise at Camp Williams sparked the "Machine Gun Fire," resulting in over 3,500 acres burned and the destruction of three homes in Herriman. Utah National Guard commander Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet publicly took responsibility for the fire, describing it as a "systemic failure." He admitted that the exercise should have been halted as it occurred on a designated red-flag day, characterized by high fire risk due to weather conditions.
The fire likely began when a machine-gun round struck a rock, igniting dry brush. Although Camp Williams fire crews initially believed the fire was under control, strong winds rapidly spread the flames, overcoming firebreaks and consuming additional acres. Nearly 5,000 residents were evacuated, with 1,652 homes in the affected area. Miraculously, only three homes were lost, with one additional home damaged, and no serious injuries were reported.
Gov. Gary Herbert, who surveyed the damage, described the low number of homes lost as "remarkable" and "a miracle." Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) committed to covering 75% of the containment costs. The incident prompted the National Guard to temporarily suspend live-fire training while investigating the failure to adhere to established protocols, including checking red-flag conditions before conducting exercises.[8]
Utah Data Center
[edit]From 2011 to 2013, the National Security Agency (NSA) built a US$1.5 billion Community Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative Data Center at Camp Williams, the first in a series of data centers required for the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative.[9][10]
Utah's selection as the data center's location was the result of a rigorous evaluation process. Bluffdale outcompeted 38 other potential sites due to several key factors, including low utility rates, proximity to secure electrical transmission lines, open land on a military installation, and the availability of a skilled workforce supported by nearby universities and technology companies. Utah's cold winters and low humidity also contributed to reduced cooling costs for the facility.[11]
Political advocacy also played a significant role. Then-Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. and Senator Orrin Hatch lobbied extensively for the project, emphasizing Utah's infrastructure and national security commitment. Bluffdale's location at the gap between the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains provided natural geographic advantages, while its proximity to the Utah National Guard's Camp Williams added an extra layer of security.[12]
The 1,500,000 square feet (140,000 m2) facility, constructed on 200 acres (81 ha) of Camp Williams' former airfield, uses 65 megawatts of electricity—costing approximately $40 million annually—and 1,210 gallons of water per minute to cool its systems. Opened in 2013, the data center enhanced the NSA's capability to store and process massive amounts of data, including emails, instant messages, and phone calls from around the globe.[13]
Despite speculation about the role of Utah's predominantly conservative population and its members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, former NSA officials and analysts have clarified that the choice was driven purely by practical considerations, including cost, security, and infrastructure.[14]
U.S. Army Reserve Relocation to Camp Williams
[edit]In 2024, a historic agreement was finalized to relocate the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) operations from Fort Douglas to Camp Williams, a move supported by a $100 million investment from the Utah Legislature. This initiative marked Utah as the only state to fund a federal military relocation, emphasizing the state’s strategic partnership with the U.S. military.[15]
The relocation involves constructing a 220,000-square-foot Army Readiness Center on a 31.9-acre site within Camp Williams. The new facility will include administrative offices, secure storage, training areas, and a vehicle maintenance shop. This project, projected for completion in 2026, will support over 16,000 soldiers and civilians from the 76th Operational Response Command and 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support).[16]
The agreement also facilitates the transfer of 50.9 acres at Fort Douglas to the University of Utah. Plans include the development of health sciences research centers, student housing, and recreational spaces. Preservation measures are in place to protect historically significant portions of the site.[17]
The initiative underscores a collaborative effort involving the Utah National Guard, the University of Utah, state officials, and federal agencies. Public transparency was emphasized through regular reporting on project milestones, fiscal expenditures, and stakeholder reviews.[18]
See also
[edit]- List of military installations in Utah
- Camp Williams Hostess House/Officers' Club, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
References
[edit]- ^ "The Utah National Guard and Territorial Militias". Utah History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ Alexander, Thomas G.; Arrington, Leonard J. (1965). Utah's First Line of Defense: The Utah National Guard and Camp W. G. Williams, 1926-1965. Vol. 33. Utah Historical Quarterly.
- ^ "History of Camp Williams". Utah Training Center. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "Utah's First Line of Defense: The Utah National Guard and Camp W.G. Williams, 1926-1965". Utah Historical Quarterly. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "History of Camp W.G. Williams". Utah National Guard. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "The History of Camp Williams". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "Camp Williams Assets and Training Facilities". Utah National Guard. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ Jason Bergreen; Mike Gorrell; Nate Carlisle (20 September 2010). "Guard takes blame for massive fire, saying 'we failed'". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 21 September 2010.
- ^ LaPlante, Matthew D. (2 July 2009). "New NSA center unveiled in budget documents". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- ^ LaPlante, Matthew D. (2 July 2009). "Spies like us: NSA to build huge facility in Utah". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 5 July 2009.
- ^ Nate Carlisle (29 June 2013). "Why the NSA put a data center in Utah". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ Nate Carlisle (16 July 2018). "Utah has long stood as one of our nation's most patriotic states' — Declassified documents show the pitch to lure National Security Agency Data Center". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ Kenyon, Henry (7 January 2011). "New NSA data center breaks ground on construction – Defense Systems". Defense Systems. Retrieved 11 August 2011.
- ^ Nate Carlisle (29 June 2013). "Why the NSA put a data center in Utah". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "Fort Douglas Army Reserves to relocate making way for U of U campus expansion". ABC4. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "Utah Legislature appropriates $100M to move Army Reserve from Fort Douglas". Deseret News. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "University of Utah finalizes 'historic' land transfer to move Army off campus Fort Douglas". Utah News Dispatch. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "Military spending millions to buy up — and preserve — land around Utah's Camp Williams". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
External links
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