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Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
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Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA), commonly known as Camp Parks, is a United States Army base located in Dublin, California, that is currently an active military and training center for U.S. Army Reserve personnel to be used in case of war or natural disaster.

Key Information

History

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World War II

[edit]

Soon after the creation of the Seabees at the beginning of World War II, the U.S. Navy built a West Coast replacement and recuperation center for Naval Construction Battalions returning from overseas. Camp Parks was established on 26 November 1942, having been named in honor of Rear Admiral Charles W. Parks, Civil Engineer Corps (CEC), the World War I chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks.[1] Adjacent to Camp Parks to the east, was Camp Shoemaker and the U.S. Naval Hospital Shoemaker, also built during the war. The three Navy bases located side by side were called "Fleet City."[2] In April 1945 over 20,000 troops were on the three bases. Seabee had 71 battalions sent through Camp Parks during the war. U.S. Naval Hospital Shoemaker at its peak had 3,031 Seabee patients. The hospital closed in 1946. Camp Shoemaker had a disciplinary barracks for up to 2,097, the men had both work duties and recreational activities. The confined men built cargo nets and wooden pallets for the Navy.[3] The base football team was called the Fleet City Bluejackets.

In 1945, on its huge paved parade ground, Camp Parks could muster more than 20,000 men and hundreds of officers. It was the home for Seabee battalions returning from the Pacific Theater of Operations after a year or more of construction duty. They came to Camp Parks for medical treatment, military training and reorganization. The base housed up to 20 battalions at a time. Most battalions prepared for a second tour in the Pacific. Many Seabees were hospitalized, and those no longer fit for duty received their discharge. After their initial leaves, personnel were given training and battalions were returned to fighting strength.

In 1946, at the end of World War II, the United States Secretary of the Navy disestablished the three facilities, and from 1946 to 1951, the Navy leased much of the land to the County of Alameda for use as Santa Rita Jail. Thousands of Quonset huts and barracks and other buildings were subsequently dismantled through sales conducted by the War Assets Administration.[4]

Cold War

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Camp Parks sat unused until the United States Air Force established it as a basic training center in 1951 during the Korean War, and renamed the facility Parks Air Force Base. The Air Force almost completely rebuilt the base. Base personnel were initially housed in temporary facilities and ate from a field mess. The first group of airmen arrived at Camp Parks in the summer of 1951, and mass training began in March 1952 as the 3275th Air Indoctrination Wing.[5] In 1953, Air Base Defense classes started as the Air Force transitioned the base defense mission from the Army.  The Air Force first terminated basic training and then reinstated it that year, all in response to Defense Department budget problems. In 1956, base operations started to change as basic training and the Air Base Defense School moved to Lackland Air Force Base. It is estimated about 6,800 recruits graduated from basic training at Parks AFB between 1951 and 1956.The base transitioned from an Air Training Command facility to a Continental Air Command installation.  In January 1957, the 2349th Air Base Wing and the 2349th Personnel Processing Group started operations as part of the Fourth Air Force.  The nearby regional Air Force hospital changed its designation at that time, too.  Personnel processing continued as the primary base operation until 1959 when the base closed.

Parks Air Force Base was notable as one of the few air force bases without a functional runway on site.[6]

In July 1959, the installation was transferred to the United States Army. From 1959 to 1973, it was operated in a standby status under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Sixth Army, Presidio of San Francisco.

In June 1965, U.S. Coast Guard Squadron One used the range facilities for small arms training in preparation for deployment to Vietnam. Training was completed with pistols, rifles and machine guns under the auspices of the U.S. Navy.[7]

In 1973, the U.S. Army determined that Camp Parks was needed as a mobilization and training center for Reserve Components in the event of war or natural disaster. On 11 December 1980, the Army designated Camp Parks as a semi-active installation, renaming it Parks Reserve Forces Training Area.

Radiation experiments

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From 1959 to 1983, tests were conducted at Camp Parks to determine the effects of radiation on crops and livestock.[8] Various experiments included growing crops in plutonium-enriched soil, exposing sheep to the radioactive isotope cobalt-60, simulating the effects of radiation on ship hulls, exposing an abandoned complex to sand containing lanthanum-140, and exposing dogs to damaging gamma rays.[9][10] All radioactive material was disposed of on site and some areas were later closed off.

Concerns have been raised about the safety of these experiments. James L. Thomas, a former radiation safety officer at Camp Parks, said, "They wouldn’t be allowed to do that today. It would never be approved. Never."[9] In 1994, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission found forty-six cases showing evidence of radiation experiments on humans, which included at least one experiment at Camp Parks.[11]

However, there has been dispute over these concerns. A 2014 inspection of a small area of Camp Parks found that "there is no evidence that radioactive material or sources were stored or used on the property."[12] Dr. John Ainsworth, former scientific director at Camp Parks, said that there was little controversy over their studies at the time.[10] James Sartor, project manager of several experiments at Camp Parks, said, "There’s no danger in what we did. There were no human guinea pigs involved in any of the experiments."[9]

In a project titled Bombs in Your Backyard, ProPublica found that the Camp Parks site contained "hazardous, toxic, and radioactive waste."[13]

Current mission

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Camp Parks sign in 2016

Parks has a primary mission of exercising the functions of command, training, security, administration, servicing and supply to all troop units, military activities and other governmental agencies assigned or attached.

New and state-of-the-art training facilities have been built and more are planned. In the garrison area are administrative and classroom buildings, upgraded housing, a remodeled dining facility, a modern lodging facility, an informative history center, and other support and training facilities.

Parks RFTA is the only local training facility for more than 11,000 Army Reserve Soldiers in the San Francisco Bay Area where a wide variety of training facilities are available. Reserve Units permanently stationed at Parks RFTA conduct weekend inactive duty training throughout the year, and Reserve Component units travel to the base for their two-week annual training.[14]

The base also hosts the Federal Correctional Institute, Dublin, and is adjacent to Santa Rita Jail.

Assigned units

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Future changes

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In its 2005 Base Realignment and Closure recommendations, the Department of Defense recommended relocating the 91st Division to Fort Hunter Liggett.[17][18]

  • United States Navy Seabees emblem
    United States Navy Seabees emblem
  • USAF Air Training Command emblem (1950s)
    USAF Air Training Command emblem (1950s)
  • Emblem of the USAF 2349th Personnel Processing Group
    Emblem of the USAF 2349th Personnel Processing Group
  • United States Sixth Army emblem
    United States Sixth Army emblem

See also

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Notes

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Parks Reserve Forces Training Area

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia

Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA), also known as Camp Parks, is a United States Army garrison and training installation located in Dublin, California.
Originally established during World War II as a naval facility, the site transitioned through Air Force basic training operations before being redesignated in 1980 as a semi-active Army Reserve installation focused on mobilization and readiness. In 1992, it became a sub-installation of Fort Hunter Liggett, enhancing its role in supporting West Coast reserve forces.
PRFTA serves as a premier platform for Army Reserve and National Guard training, hosting over 30 tenant units and providing hands-on, combat-simulated exercises for logistics, sustainment, and specialized support roles, including water purification and fuel distribution. It also functions as an academic institution and military intelligence hub, facilitating the 91st Training Division's mission to prepare soldiers for future operational demands through rigorous, scenario-based instruction. The installation's strategic location in the San Francisco Bay Area supports efficient access for units while maintaining secure training environments essential for national defense readiness.

Location and Facilities

Geographical and Strategic Position


Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA) is located in , within Alameda County in the eastern . The installation lies approximately 28 miles southeast of Oakland and about 45 minutes' drive from , positioning it amid the densely populated Quad-City region encompassing , Pleasanton, Livermore, and San Ramon. Spanning nearly 2,000 acres, PRFTA features varied terrain suitable for diverse training activities, including urban simulation sites and obstacle courses. Strategically, PRFTA's proximity to major transportation infrastructure enhances its role as a key mobilization hub for U.S. Army Reserve and units. The site's access to seaports, airports in San Jose, Oakland, and , railway lines, and supports rapid deployment and logistical efficiency, making it a cost-effective launchpad for global contingencies. This location facilitates training for over 20,000 soldiers across more than 250 units, capitalizing on the Bay Area's for reserve while providing a secure environment for high-fidelity exercises. Designated in 1973 as a primary Reserve Component training center, PRFTA's Bay Area placement underscores its importance in maintaining readiness amid potential wartime or scenarios, serving as the West Coast's premier platform for operational preparation. Its integration into the regional structure further bolsters defensive posture in a high-value economic and technological corridor.

Infrastructure and Training Capabilities

Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA) maintains infrastructure tailored for mobilization, training, and logistical support of Reserve units, including for temporary billeting, administrative buildings, and maintenance facilities to accommodate over 20,000 soldiers annually from more than 250 units. The installation's support elements encompass utility infrastructure such as generators, buffalos, overhead watering points, wash racks, bathroom and shower trailers, and tent cities for field operations. Training capabilities emphasize collective and individual soldier skills through diverse ranges and sites, including live fire ranges, the Grenade SIM Range, Shoothouse Area, and Military Urban Operations Site (MOUT) for urban simulation. Specialized facilities support and maneuver training, such as the Airstrip Landing Zone, Tactical , Drop Zone South, Vehicle Track Course, and ATGM Tracking Site Area. Obstacle and confidence-building infrastructure includes the Rappel Tower, Rope Bridge, (Confidence Course), , and Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC) to develop physical and team skills. Environmental and tactical training areas feature the for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear exposure simulation, Medical Litter Course, sites, and Warrior Training (WTT) Site. Advanced simulation and academic resources enhance readiness, with the Battle Projection Center for command post exercises, Engagement Skills Trainer for weapons proficiency, state-of-the-art Medical Skills Lab, and Distance Learning Facility for instructional programs. Additional sites support sustainment tasks, including Bivouac Sites 1-4, Field Kitchen Site, Common Task Testing Site (CTT), Smoke Grenade Practice Site, and Vehicle Recovery Site. These assets collectively enable comprehensive pre- and post-mobilization training for Army Reserve, , active component, ROTC, and allied forces.

Historical Development

World War II Origins

Camp Parks was established by the in late 1942 amid the rapid expansion of its Naval Construction Battalions, or , following the ' entry into . Situated near , adjacent to the larger Camp Shoemaker naval training center, the facility was formally commissioned on January 19, 1943, as the Seabee Construction Battalion Replacement Depot. It was named in honor of George J. Parks, who had served as chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks during . Initially staffed with 150 men and a small cadre of officers, the camp quickly expanded to support the logistical demands of Seabee operations in the Pacific Theater. The primary mission of Camp Parks was to serve as a West Coast hub for replacements, recuperation, and processing, enabling battalions returning from combat to rehabilitate before redeployment or . s, skilled personnel drawn from civilian trades, underwent , medical evaluations, and administrative processing at the depot to maintain combat readiness for building bases, airfields, and under fire. By the war's end, the facility had processed approximately 90,000 officers and enlisted personnel, reflecting its critical role in sustaining the Seabees' contributions to Allied victories in island-hopping campaigns . Infrastructure at Camp Parks included , training areas, and support facilities tailored to construction trades, with the site's expansive terrain accommodating heavy equipment handling and logistical throughput. Operations emphasized efficiency in turnover, as Seabees were often rotated quickly to meet frontline needs, such as those at and subsequent advances. The depot's proximity to ports facilitated rapid shipment of personnel and materials, underscoring its strategic positioning for wartime mobilization.

Post-War Transitions and Air Force Era


Following the conclusion of , Camp Parks was decommissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1946, leaving the facility largely unused amid post-war demobilization. The site's reactivation occurred in 1951 amid the escalating demands of the , when the U.S. repurposed it as a basic military training (BMT) center to accommodate surging enlistments, renaming it Parks Base. Initial cadre arrived in the summer of 1951, with large-scale recruit processing commencing in March 1952 under the 3275th Air Indoctrination Wing, established by on August 16, 1951. This made Parks one of three primary BMT locations—alongside Lackland AFB in and Sampson AFB in New York—handling the rapid expansion of personnel needs. The base's infrastructure, originally built for Navy Seabees, required significant adaptations for use, including temporary tent housing for thousands of trainees due to initial construction delays and constraints from local wells producing up to 62 million gallons daily. By 1953, fully assumed oversight, training airmen in foundational skills such as drill, physical fitness, and military customs amid the Korean conflict's peak. Parks also hosted specialized programs, including the transfer of the Air Police School in 1952, redesignated the Air Base Defense School to emphasize ground defense tactics as the assumed base security responsibilities from the . This shift reflected broader doctrinal changes, with courses focusing on weapons handling, tactics, and perimeter defense conducted partly at Parks and auxiliary sites like Beale AFB. The era at Parks waned by the mid-1950s as post-Korean War force reductions prompted consolidation of BMT to Lackland AFB in 1956, transferring the 3275th Technical Training Group and Air Base Defense School there. Parks AFB was inactivated that year due to budget constraints and reduced training demands, reverting the site to caretaker status under Department of Defense oversight before eventual Reserve reactivation. During its operational peak from 1951 to 1956, the base processed tens of thousands of recruits, contributing to readiness amid tensions.

Cold War Reorientation and Army Reserve Activation

Following the conclusion of U.S. Air Force operations at Parks Air Force Base in 1969, the installation was transferred to the U.S. Army and placed in standby status under the Sixth United States Army, headquartered at the Presidio of San Francisco. This shift represented a reorientation from Air Force personnel processing and training—primarily focused on basic military training during the Korean War buildup and subsequent Cold War alerts—to potential Army support roles, reflecting postwar budget constraints and the need to repurpose facilities for broader defense readiness amid ongoing tensions with the Soviet Union. During the early 1970s, as the U.S. military adapted to lessons from the and persistent deterrence requirements, Camp Parks remained in limited use, with portions retained for training and occasional activities. In 1973, the assessed the site's strategic value and designated it as a key mobilization and training hub for Reserve Components, emphasizing its capacity to support rapid deployment of reserve units in scenarios involving war or national disasters. This decision underscored a doctrinal pivot toward enhancing reserve forces as a cost-effective supplement to active-duty troops, enabling large-scale exercises without full-time occupation of the 19,000-acre site. On December 11, 1980, the Army activated the facility as a semi-active installation, renaming it Parks Reserve Forces Training Area to formalize its role in Reserve Component operations. The activation facilitated initial training for thousands of Army National Guard and Reserve soldiers, aligning with late Cold War priorities for scalable mobilization infrastructure capable of accommodating up to 95 percent of reserve forces in a crisis. Infrastructure upgrades, including range enhancements and barracks reactivation, supported this transition, though the site operated at reduced capacity until further expansions in the 1990s.

Key Events and Adaptations

In 1973, the U.S. Army identified Camp Parks as a critical site for mobilization and training of reserve forces, marking a shift toward reserve component readiness amid tensions. This determination facilitated its reactivation from standby status under the Sixth Army, emphasizing infrastructure rehabilitation for large-scale unit deployments. On December 11, 1980, the formally designated the installation as semi-active and renamed it Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA), aligning it with reserve missions while retaining operational flexibility for active-duty support. This adaptation reduced permanent staffing but expanded capacity for rotational training, accommodating up to several thousand personnel annually for exercises simulating combat and operations. Administrative realignments in the 1990s further adapted PRFTA to post-Cold War force structures. On October 1, 1992, it became a subinstallation of Headquarters, I Corps, and Fort Lewis, Washington, enhancing integration with Pacific theater readiness. By 1993, command and control transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve Command in Atlanta, Georgia, with direct reporting to Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, streamlining oversight for reserve intelligence and sustainment training. In 2005, PRFTA transitioned to subinstallation status under U.S. Garrison , broadening its role to support multi-branch activities including Reserve, , Navy Reserve Seabees, and ROTC programs. This change incorporated advanced facilities like mission training complexes for simulation-based intelligence exercises, reflecting adaptations to and joint operations requirements. Recent enhancements, such as state-of-the-art medical skills labs and distance learning centers, have sustained its evolution into a hub for specialized reserve readiness without full-time active-duty .

Operational Mission and Training

Core Training Functions

Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA) functions primarily as a hub for and (NCO) development within the U.S. Reserve, accommodating up to 15,000 personnel annually through structured programs focused on command, , and administrative . The installation's Academy (NCOA) delivers the (BLC), a foundational program emphasizing six core competencies: , communications, management, operations, readiness, and . This equips sergeants with skills for small-unit , including and , physical readiness, and , typically conducted in a resident format to build practical proficiency. Beyond NCO-specific instruction, PRFTA supports and staff missions, enabling reserve units to simulate command post operations and decision-making processes on a global scale. Facilities such as rappel towers, reaction courses, medical skills laboratories, and distance learning centers facilitate hands-on exercises in tactical mobility, team problem-solving, and sustainment skills, integrating with broader readiness objectives for over 250 tenant units. These capabilities align with the 91st Division's role in institutional , preparing soldiers for and deployment through coordinated access to urban sites and environments. The core functions emphasize reserve-specific sustainment, prioritizing modular, scalable exercises that enhance and operational tempo without the scale of active-duty basic combat training. This focus derives from PRFTA's integration with the 63rd Readiness Division, which oversees training support across western states to ensure rapid force generation.

Specialized Programs and Intelligence Focus

The Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA) hosts specialized training programs emphasizing operations, serving as a primary facility for reserve component forces in the . The installation functions as a dedicated hub, supporting multidiscipline activities including intelligence collection, analysis, dissemination, and integration with elements. These programs equip soldiers for , sustainment, and operational support in diverse environments, drawing on state-of-the-art simulation and academic resources to enhance readiness. Central to this focus is the 368th Battalion, headquartered at PRFTA, which trains and deploys personnel skilled in conducting intelligence operations across collection disciplines such as signals, human, and . The battalion's mission includes providing analyzed intelligence products to support tactical and strategic decision-making, with training emphasizing real-time reporting and coordination under simulated combat conditions. Complementing this, the Western Army Reserve Intelligence Support Center (WARISC) at PRFTA delivers regional support to reserve intelligence units, facilitating advanced training in analytical tools, , and techniques. The PRFTA Mission Training Complex further bolsters intelligence-focused programs through battlefield simulation and virtual environments, allowing units to practice joint operations integrating intelligence with cyber defense and information operations. Tenant units such as the Western Cyber Protection Center conduct specialized cyber operations training, focusing on network defense and threat intelligence to counter digital adversaries, which has become integral to broader intelligence workflows since the early 2010s. In fiscal year 2019, PRFTA's intelligence infrastructure supported 24 reserve units, three combatant commands, and multiple agencies in both training and real-world missions, demonstrating its role in sustaining operational tempo. These programs extend to collaborative exercises, where intelligence elements from PRFTA units, including the 368th and 152nd Theater Operations Group, integrate with divisions like the 91st Training Division for scenarios involving , aviation support, and multi-domain operations. Such training underscores PRFTA's emphasis on causal linkages between raw data collection and actionable insights, prioritizing empirical validation over doctrinal assumptions to prepare forces for peer-level conflicts.

Contributions to Military Readiness

Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA) enhances U.S. Army Reserve readiness by serving as a primary and hub, designated in 1973 for Reserve Component activation in contingencies. It hosts over 30 tenant units, including the 91st Training Division (Headquarters at PRFTA since its training mission shift in 1959), which conducts large-scale exercises such as Command Simulation Training Exercise (CSTX) and Operation Mojave Falcon to prepare soldiers for joint, multinational, and operational deployments. These efforts build combat-effective forces by simulating real-world scenarios across sustainment, logistics, and combat support specialties under the 84th Training Command. The installation's Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security (DPTMS) supports warfighter preparation for approximately 180 units through advanced training aids, including vehicle simulators for port operations (e.g., ATLAS and container forklifts) and digital range systems. This infrastructure fosters lethal, agile, and adaptive capabilities, with the Training Support Center providing immersive simulations that enable high-fidelity skill development without live resource expenditure. PRFTA's strategic Bay Area location, proximate to seaports, airports, and rail lines, facilitates rapid mobilization and integration with active-duty and inter-service partners. Specialized programs further bolster readiness, such as the Regional Training Site-Medical (RTS-MED), which annually trains over 4,000 personnel from components and Department of Defense elements in health service support, force health protection, and defense support of civil authorities missions. Joint exercises like Western Sky (conducted September 2019) integrate Reserve combat support hospitals, field hospitals, and rescue wings to simulate mass casualty evacuations, testing multi-service coordination for expeditionary medical response. Additionally, the Noncommissioned Officer Academy (NCOA) delivers leadership courses to over 1,200 soldiers yearly across nine cycles, achieving a 99.3% rate and producing disciplined leaders for operational demands. As a Mission Training Complex and military intelligence facility, PRFTA enables collective training in cyber, signals intelligence, and battlefield simulations, directly contributing to total force deployability and deterrence posture on the West Coast. These capabilities ensure Reserve units maintain high states of proficiency, reducing deployment timelines and enhancing overall national defense resilience.

Assigned and Tenant Units

Primary Reserve Units

The Parks Reserve Forces Area (PRFTA) hosts several primary U.S. Reserve units that conduct regular and operations from the installation. These units focus on support, , and specialized functions to enhance reserve component readiness. Key among them is the 91st Division (Operations Group), headquartered at PRFTA, which develops complex environments for commanders to improve proficiency in operational scenarios. Elements of the 104th Training Division, including the 9th Battalion/104th Regiment (Health Services), are also stationed there, providing noncommissioned officer education system (NCOES) advanced and senior leader courses, as well as military occupational specialty training for roles (MOS 68W). The 63rd Regional Support Command (RSC) oversees soldier readiness processing and supports regional reserve operations from the base. Other primary reserve units include the 368th Battalion, which performs multidiscipline intelligence collection, analysis, reporting, and operations. The 1-363rd Training Support Battalion, known as the "Gunslinger Battalion," delivers decisive action and hybrid threat training for reserve and units. Additionally, the 191st Army Band supports ceremonial and community engagement activities for the Army Reserve. Specialized facilities integrated with reserve missions, such as the Camp Parks Training Aid Support Center () Training Center, offer military occupational specialty qualification, additional skill identifier, and sustainment training in health services, , and personnel support fields. The Western Cyber Protection Center conducts defense operations, bolstering cybersecurity for reserve forces. These units collectively leverage PRFTA's infrastructure to train over 20,000 reserve and soldiers annually in the .

Training Divisions and Support Elements

The 91st Training Division (Operations), headquartered at Parks Reserve Forces Training Area since its redesignation, serves as a primary training entity under the U.S. Army Reserve's 84th Training Command, focusing on developing complex operational environments for leader proficiency through simulations, large-scale exercises, and training for active, reserve, and forces. The division leverages the installation's infrastructure to support over 30 tenant units, enabling coordinated annual training events that emphasize mission rehearsal and tactical decision-making for deploying units. Elements of the 104th Training Division (Leader Training), including the 6th and 9th Battalions of the 104th Regiment, conduct specialized programs at the site, such as health services training (MOS 68W), education, and observer-controller/trainer functions for collective task proficiency. These units provide West Coast-specific support, training thousands of soldiers annually in medical, , and operational skills to meet Total Army requirements. The Camp Parks Mission Complex (PMTC), one of five U.S. Army Reserve mission training complexes assigned to the 84th Command, delivers collective training capabilities at through levels, incorporating virtual and constructive simulations to enhance warfighter readiness without live-fire constraints. Support elements, coordinated under the 63rd Readiness Division—to which PRFTA aligned its command structure in February 2025—include the Directorate of Plans, , Mobilization and Security (DPTMS), which manages range scheduling, safety oversight, and logistical sustainment for up to 20,000 soldiers from over 250 rotating units. DPTMS ensures compliance with training standards, supplies, and security protocols, directly enabling division-level operations.

Controversies and Environmental Issues

Radiation Research During Cold War

During the , Camp Parks served as a field station for the Naval Radiological Defense Laboratory (NRDL), established in 1958 to conduct radiological defense research simulating scenarios. The facility supported experiments aimed at developing techniques, assessing effects on biological and structural targets, and informing military strategies for post-nuclear recovery. These studies, part of broader U.S. efforts to counter Soviet nuclear threats, involved controlled releases of radioactive materials to evaluate protective measures and health impacts. From 1959 to 1961, NRDL researchers at Camp Parks tested street-cleaning and flushing equipment for removing simulated fallout from pavements and public areas. Workers spread sand contaminated with barium-140 and lanthanum-140 isotopes, then employed motorized sweepers and water flushers to assess removal efficiency, exposing at least 294 personnel in the process. These trials prioritized practical wartime applications, such as rapid cleanup in urban settings after atomic strikes, with reports documenting the mechanics of fallout dispersion and mitigation without detailed long-term exposure tracking. Animal irradiation experiments, led by figures like E. John Ainsworth in the 1960s, focused on gamma ray effects to advance treatments for radiation sickness and understand tissue damage. Sheep, burros, goats, pigs, and dogs—sourced partly from local pounds—were confined in a triple-fenced pasture and exposed to controlled doses, including cobalt-60 sources lifted from lead-shielded storage for durations up to 23 hours daily over 74 days. Hundreds of sheep participated from 1963 to 1973, with approximately 100 injected with an iron isotope in 1971; observed outcomes included severe injuries like limb loss and fatalities, providing data on bone marrow and intestinal lining destruction. Such research contributed to insights on DNA and blood impacts, informing civilian and military shielding protocols.

PFAS Contamination and Remediation Efforts

Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA) has identified potential per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) releases primarily from the historical use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in training exercises, nozzle testing, and storage. A Preliminary Assessment (PA) conducted on September 25, 2018, identified three areas of potential interest (AOPIs): the current training area (operational since 2003, located north-central), the former training area (used 1979–1992, southeastern), and Buildings 520 and 519 ( and AFFF storage shed, operational since 2004, east-central). A subsequent Site Inspection (SI) with sampling in April 2020 confirmed impacts, with the full PA/SI report finalized in July 2022. Groundwater sampling revealed exceedances of Department of Defense (DoD) screening levels (40 ng/L for PFOS + PFOA combined; 600 ng/L for PFBS) at the former fire training area and Buildings 520/519. At the former area, PFOS reached 6,500 ng/L, PFOA 2,000 ng/L, and PFBS 1,200 ng/L; at Buildings 520/519, PFOS hit 88 ng/L and PFOA 74 ng/L. The current fire training area showed PFOS detections of 17–20 ng/L, below screening levels, with no PFOA or PFBS detected. Soil samples from the current area and Buildings 520/519 showed low-level PFAS (e.g., PFOS up to 0.027 mg/kg) below industrial screening criteria (1.6 mg/kg); no soil was sampled at the former area due to prior excavation. No surface water or sediment sampling occurred owing to inaccessibility or absence of relevant features. Prior to the PA/SI, soil excavation and backfilling occurred at the former fire training area between 2009 and 2010 to address potential impacts from earlier operations. The PA/SI recommended no further action for the current fire training area but a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) for the former area and Buildings 520/519 to delineate contamination extent and evaluate remedies under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). As of July 2022, an RI/FS was required, with planning initiated in October 2020 and projected completion by 2028. In July 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army launched a joint off-site sampling project for private wells near PRFTA and other installations to assess potential migration. No active on-site remediation beyond assessments has been implemented as of the latest reports.

Community and Noise Disputes

Residents in surrounding communities, particularly in Dublin, California, have lodged complaints about excessive noise from ceremonial bugle calls at Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA), also known as Camp Parks, with measurements indicating levels of 80-92 decibels (dBA), exceeding Alameda County's daytime limit of 70 dBA. The controversy intensified in December 2024 following repairs to the base's "Giant Voice" public address system, which resumed broadcasting calls such as Reveille and Taps up to 11 times daily, disrupting sleep and daily activities for nearby families. By early 2025, PRFTA reduced the frequency to three calls per day (6:30 a.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m.) and lowered the volume while deactivating a redundant speaker, yet residents reported persistent high levels after calls restarted on February 18, 2025, prompting over 20 formal complaints and calls for further mitigation. Broader noise concerns stem from training activities, including artillery firing and aircraft operations, which occasionally generate audible disturbances beyond the base perimeter. For instance, PRFTA issued advisories for cannon fire on June 29, 2021, anticipating community impact from such exercises. Periodic training events involving helicopters and small arms have been noted in environmental assessments to produce noise contours extending into adjacent areas, though specific complaint volumes remain low compared to the bugle issue. In nearby Pleasanton, residents infrequently report hearing sounds from PRFTA's firing ranges across Interstate 680, contributing to localized but intermittent grievances. PRFTA has responded to training-related noise through public notifications, emphasizing the necessity of such activities for military readiness while monitoring community feedback to minimize disruptions.

Recent Developments and Future Outlook

Infrastructure Modernization Projects

In 2021, Parks Reserve Forces Training Area (PRFTA) initiated a modular micro-grid system project to enhance energy resilience, with a groundbreaking ceremony held on August 19. This system, developed over more than a decade of planning, integrates solar power, battery storage, and backup generators to provide uninterrupted electricity during outages, reducing reliance on the local grid. The micro-grid was commissioned on August 16, 2024, marking a key milestone in the installation's infrastructure upgrades for operational continuity. Complementing these efforts, PRFTA completed a solar array installation in 2022, accompanied by upgrades to electrical distribution systems, metering, and building controls to support integration. This project, ribbon-cut on May 27, 2022, advances the base's goals for sustainable power generation amid California's variable grid conditions. Ongoing resilient energy initiatives, highlighted in July 2023, continue to prioritize such systems to ensure training missions proceed without disruption. Facility-specific modernizations include the renovation of Building 331, a full-scale initiated in 2023 to align with Department of the Army standards, encompassing structural, electrical, and environmental improvements. Additionally, a new 45,000-square-foot for the Non-Commissioned Officers and 80th Training Command was procured via design-bid-build in recent years to accommodate expanded reserve personnel housing needs. To support emerging fleets, PRFTA participated in a 2023-2024 pilot program installing seven dual-port chargers, part of broader Reserve assessments for EV compatibility. These projects collectively address aging , , and readiness requirements under fiscal constraints outlined in the 's 2024 budget proposal, which allocated funds for reserve facility sustainment including at PRFTA.

Ongoing Training Initiatives and Events

The Parks Reserve Forces Area (PRFTA) serves as a key venue for recurring collective training events (CTEs) tailored to Army Reserve and units, emphasizing mobilization readiness and functional skills in logistics, medical, and sustainment operations. For instance, units such as the 10th from , , have conducted CTEs at PRFTA involving over 120 personnel focused on operational deployment simulations and team proficiency in setup and patient care under simulated combat conditions. Similarly, the 352nd executed home station annual training in 2025, incorporating instruction delivered by PRFTA's Regional Training Site-Medical (RTS-MED) cadre to enhance emergency response capabilities. The 91st Training Division, headquartered at PRFTA, drives ongoing initiatives in hands-on, combat-simulated training for a spectrum of support occupational specialties, including , bulk fuel distribution, retail fuel operations, and handling. These programs, updated as of September 2025, prepare soldiers for large-scale deployments by integrating live-fire elements, tactical maneuvers, and multi-unit coordination, supporting over 11,000 Bay Area Reserve personnel without reliance on distant active-duty installations. PRFTA's Directorate of Plans, , , and (DPTMS) facilitates advanced through its Training Support Center, which supplies training aids, devices, simulators, and simulations (TADSS) for virtual and scenarios, enabling year-round proficiency in urban operations, convoy security, and command post exercises. Additionally, the installation hosts specialized field exercises, such as the (QM-FTX) at the Tactical Training Center (TTC) Parks, focusing on , water, and under austere conditions. Recurring events include competitive skill-building activities tied to Army-wide readiness campaigns, such as the Army Emergency Relief kickoff competitions featuring and marksmanship, courses, utility swimming, and to foster physical and technical excellence among Reserve soldiers. These initiatives, conducted annually, align with broader Mission Training Complex operations at PRFTA, which simulate joint and multi-domain environments to validate and adaptive tactics.

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