With the advantages the military enjoys from such a mammoth training facility like the Barry M. Goldwater Range here, come some unique environmental considerations for its operation.
According to Aaron Alvidrez, wildlife biologist for environmental science management at the range, "the goal is to create a training environment, while at the same time preserving the natural resources."
That means protecting, among other things, the Sonoran pronghorn antelope, an endangered species unique to this area.
"We have the only herd of Sonoran pronghorn antelope in the United States," Alvidrez said. "In 2002 the rare antelope numbered only 17; today there are between 50 and 60 in the herd."
Besides the delicate balance of nature, with more than two thousand miles of sparse desert bordering Mexico, undocumented aliens or UDAs, also present a real concern to the Air Force.
"Undocumented aliens can also impact operations, requiring occasional diverting of missions," Mr. Alvidrez said.
To protect the wildlife and the occasional UDA, constant monitoring and observation are going on throughout the range.