JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. –
The U.S. Army Support Activity-Dix range facility accommodates law enforcement firearms training for their joint base mission partners, and an average of 14,000 law enforcement personnel from local, state and federal agencies annually.
Law enforcement organizations utilize the 13,765 acres of ASA Dix training grounds designated for range and impact areas to maintain their readiness and improve their tactical capabilities.
“We’re very fortunate here at Joint Base MDL,” said police Lt. John Russo, 87th Security Forces training chief. “We’re out here every week in some capacity. We have a whole binder full of courses that are now part of proficiency firing that’s all outside of what they do at their basic qualification once a year.”
Throughout the over 100-year history of the facility formally known as Fort Dix, readiness training has become the backbone of its legacy.
“I’ve been on 20 years and we’ve been coming here, probably, five or six years prior to that,” said police Sgt. John Harbourt, Trenton Police Department training supervisor. “The military is really helpful with us, and scheduling is a lot easier than compared to other agencies. Each SWAT team is able to train here twice a month to enhance various skillsets.”
Being a police officer demands a heightened degree of readiness, and ASA Dix supports the training that is required to achieve that.
“The whole goal is to make sure we’re hitting what we’re aiming at if, God forbid, we do have to shoot something,” said Russo.