Large scale test to be conducted at WSMR

Published June 7, 2011
White Sands Missle Range Public Affairs

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. -- Residents and motorists in and around White Sands Missile Range can expect to see increased traffic for the next six weeks as a large-scale test is conducted on the sprawling missile range.

There will be more vehicles, including military vehicles, entering the WSMR main post from both El Paso and Las Cruces. Motorists will notice this increased traffic on War Road as well as U.S. Highway 70 and U.S. Highway 54 near the missile range exits. The test runs 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Activities will be curtailed on the weekends.

This test program, called the Network Integration Evaluation, starts June 6 today and runs through July 15 on both the missile range and at Fort Bliss. NIE will test and evaluate 30 different systems connecting to several networks "talking" to each other.

NIE will involve about 3,800 soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division stationed at Fort Bliss, as well as about 2,000 additional soldiers, government and contractor support personnel from other locations.

For more information, contact the WSMR Public Affairs Office at (575) 678-1134.