Yakima Training Center

Established: 1942
Base Type: Army

About

Yakima Training Center, is a United States Army Training Center used primarily for land defense training. From 1942 to 1946 the U.S. Army leased 160,000 acres (650 km2) of land in the area for the Yakima Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range. Then in 1951 the Army purchased 261,000 acres (1,060 km2) for the Yakima Firing Center, which would become the modern Yakima Training Center. Covering about 500 square miles, the Army’s Yakima Training Center provides a key resource for soldiers.

While only about 100 service members are permanently stationed here, the training center is a satellite of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, JBLM, in Tacoma and is used for large-scale training exercises by two Army brigades, Special Forces units, support units such as combat engineers, and the Air Force, as well as international forces from Canada and Japan.

The importance of the training center in helping troops from JBLM stay combat ready has grown in recent years since the base plays a key role in the military’s renewed focus on the Pacific Region.

The Yakima Training Center, known as YTC, operates like a mini-city, employing road engineers, accountants and police officers, but unlike larger military bases, it does not offer housing, schools or shopping for service members stationed there. The installation has 27 firing ranges and 20 training areas, all of which aim toward the interior, a closed area known as the Central Impact Area.

The firing ranges feature cardboard targets such as trucks with machine guns that can go 40 mph and machines that mimic the sound of gunfire or the experience of roadside explosives.

Directions

From I-90

• Merge onto I-82 E/US-97 S via EXIT 110 toward YAKIMA.
  Take the WA-821 N exit, EXIT 26, toward WA-823/CANYON RD/SELAH.
  Follow the signs to the Yakima Training Center.

From Hwy 12

• Merge onto I-82 W/US-97 N toward SELAH/ELLENSBURG.
  Take the WA-821 N exit, EXIT 26, toward WA-823/CANYON RD/SELAH.
  Follow the signs to the Yakima Training Center.

From Hwy 97

• Merge onto I-82 W/US-97 N toward YAKIMA.
  Take the WA-821 N exit, EXIT 26, toward WA-823/SELAH.
  Follow the signs to the Yakima Training Center.

From I-84

• Take the US-97 exit, EXIT 104, toward YAKIMA/BEND.
  Turn LEFT onto US-97/SHERMAN HWY. Continue to follow US-97 (Crossing into WASHINGTON).
  Turn LEFT onto WA-14/US-97.
  Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto US-97 N.
  US-97 N becomes WA-22.
  Merge onto I-82 W toward YAKIMA.
  Take the WA-821 N exit, EXIT 26, toward WA-823/SELAH.
  Follow the signs to the Yakima Training Center.

Quick Reference

Chapel
Calvary Chapel Yakima
(509) 249-1464

Dining Facility
Pacific Rim Cafe
970 Firing Center Rd,
Yakima, WA 98901

Education
Stone Education Center
6242 Colorado Ave,
Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA 98433

Equal Opportunity
Fort Lewis JBLM Army EEO Office
Bldg 5164, Utah Ave,
JBLM Lewis Main, WA 98433
(253) 967-9078

Family Advocacy
AFCS at Yakima Training Center (YTC): (509) 577-3114
South Entrance of Bldg. 271 (B St. & 4th Ave.)
Community Information Services: (509) 577-3114
Military & Family Life Counselor: (509) 577-3833 or (509) 379-1038

Public Affairs
City of Yakima – Communications & Public Affairs Director
124 S. 2nd Street,
Yakima, Wa. 98901
Phone: (509) 575-6092
Cell: (509) 901-1142

Fire Emergency Services
For life-threatening emergencies, dial 911
Non-emergency number: (509) 575-6060
401 North Front Street,
Yakima, WA 98901
Office Hours:  8am – 5pm, Monday-Friday

Legal
JBLM Main Legal Assistance Office
2027 North 8th St.,
Joint Base Lewis McChord, WA 98433
(253) 477-1873

Base Surroundings

Yakima Valley Museum
2105 Tieton Dr,
Yakima, WA 98902-3766
(509) 248-0747

Johnson’s Orchards
4906 Summitview Ave,
Yakima, WA 98908-2852
(509) 966-7479

Bale Breaker Brewing Company
1801 Birchfield Rd,
Yakima, WA 98901-9577
(509) 424-4000

Bonair Winery
500 S. Bonair Rd,
Yakima, WA 98953
(509) 829-6027

Kana Winery
10 S 2nd St,
Yakima, WA 98901-2618
(509) 453-6611