The Mississippi National Guard has partnered with U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command to designate Camp Shelby as a permissive test range for military technology created by private companies and other innovators.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves was one of five officials who met at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center in Hattiesburg on Sept. 9 to make the announcement regarding the base. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., Maj. Gen. Bobby Ginn, Brigadier Gen. Shannon Lucas and Col. Ashley Sullivan all joined Reeves in making the announcement.
"Y'all probably heard me say this before, and I'll say it again," Reeves said during the announcement at Camp Shelby on Sept. 9. "Mississippi is the most military-friendly state in all of America. ... Now, after today's announcement, our state will play an even greater role in helping private industry develop and test the technologies that could shape the future battlefield."
The panel of speakers said the new designation will give private companies access to Camp Shelby to conduct research and develop and test technologies such as drones, counter-drone systems, long-range fires and low-cost interceptors.
"It's important for the state of Mississippi," Reeves said. "It's important for the Mississippi National Guard, but most of all, I believe it is most important for the United States Army and ultimately our national security."
In the past, private companies and startups without a pre-existing relationship with the Army faced roadblocks to test and evaluate new ideas or technologies.
"The Army, to their credit, is taking steps to lower barriers to entry, and Mississippi is proud to partner with them," Reeves said. "The ultimate objective is to shorten the distance between an innovative American idea and a capability that can help an American service member accomplish a mission."
Ginn stated that Camp Shelby was chosen primarily due to its size and its history. The camp spans more than 130,000 acres, and it first opened during World War I in 1917. Today, Camp Shelby is the training site for National Guardsmen and Reservists and hosts over 100,000 personnel per year.
"No doubt, Camp Shelby was chosen for this role because of what it's done in its history since 1917," Ginn said. "And as we work with private industry and as we work with defense industries, Camp Shelby is a large training site. ... It's got 60 ranges here and the team of soldiers, team of civilians, they support commanders and they support defense industry."
Camp Shelby is one of four designated permissive ranges in the continental United States, along with Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, the West Cibola Range in Arizona and Camp Grayling in Michigan. The Army also announced an overseas range in Morocco for long-range fires capability. It set up a website where companies can request range access and learn more about working with the federal government.
"If you are developing technology that can make our service members safer, more effective or more capable, I invite you to come innovate at Camp Shelby and come see what the Mississippi National Guard and the Magnolia State have to offer," Reeves said. "When our country brings together the ingenuity of the private sector with the capabilities of our military, America is impossible to beat."
Officials also expect Camp Shelby's designation to bring a positive economic impact to the Pine Belt area. As new companies move to the area, they will bring job opportunities with them.
"The tremendous national security benefit of today's announcement, combined with the potential economic benefits makes this one of the great days during my tenure as governor," Reeves said.
Davis Wilson covers Southern Miss athletics and Hattiesburg news for the Hattiesburg American. Email him at [email protected] or find him on X at @Davis_Wilson.
This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg chosen as new military tech testing site