Military Bases

U. S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG)

Yuma Proving Ground

U. S. Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) was established in 1943 and served the nation during World War II in several ways, one being a desert training site for General Patton's armored troops.

Today, utilizing 1,300 square miles of desert area, it serves as a major test range specializing in: tank-automotive, munitions and weapons, aircraft armament, air delivery systems and desert environmental. Nearly 100 individual tests are ongoing at any single time. YPG manages Army cold weather testing in Alaska and tropic testing in the Republic of Panama, Hawaii, and in other nations.

With nearly 3000 military, civilian and contract employees, as well as personnel who come to the proving ground for training, YPG is a major employer in Yuma County and plays an important role in the economic stability of our area. Annual payroll is about $164 million. In addition, YPG commands about $164 million in private contracts. About 23, 000 people visit the proving ground for testing and training activities throughout the year. General Motors Corporation is in the process of moving its desert proving ground to Yuma Proving Ground. This will creat an additional 200 to 300 jobs within Yuma County.

Yuma Proving Ground promotes community involvement by participating in numerous local events and educational activities. YPG is an integral part of the economic, social and cultural activities of Yuma County.

Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma (MCAS)

Marine Corps Air Station

Established in 1959, the Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma (MCAS) has access to 2.8 million acres of aviation training ranges and is the Corps' premier aviation training facility. Ideal weather (flyable 98 percent of the time) allows units to accomplish more training in two weeks in Yuma than they could in many more weeks at their home bases.

Approximately 5,500 Marines and sailors are aboard MCAS Yuma on any given day. There are also several hundred permanent civilian employees and contract employees at MCAS. With approximately 200,000 airfield operations annually, it is the most active air station in the Marine Corp and the sixth most active in the Navy Department.

MCAS Yuma is a major influence on the Yuma economy. Its presence here provides events and cultural activities for the community. A benefit of MCAS is its quality, traveled personnel who are typically active in the community. They bring with them a constant supply of ideas to influence the social and cultural development of the local community.

The economic impact of MCAS on the local community (2002) was 265.7 million. The relationship between MCAS Yuma, the business community and Yuma citizens is exemplar.