Originally 160,000 acres was leased by the Army from 1942-1946 for use primarily as an anti-aircraft artillery range, in 1951 the Army purchases 261,000 acres for a permanent training area capable of support large-scale training operations. In 1987 the training area was enlarged to its current size of about 327,000 acres, and is used for training exercises large and small by all branches of the military.

Fort Bliss was originally established at its current location in 1893, and was used briefly by John J. Pershing to secure the US-Mexico border during the Mexican Revolution. During World War I, Fort Bliss was primarily used to train cavalry troops, but during World War II the advancement of artillery and aviation technology led Fort Bliss to be used to train anti-aircraft gunners, as well as research on the latest technology of the time - rockets.

During the Cold War, Fort Bliss and the adjacent White Sands Missile Range grew, as the need for missiles in order to counter the Soviet threat grew.

Currently Fort Bliss houses the 1st Armored Division, in addition to the Air Defense Artillery Units. Fort Bliss encompasses an area of 1,700 square miles, and is used as a training area by all branches of the military.

Established in 1942, Letterkenny Army Depot was used to store and ship ammunition, parts, and supplies during World War II. During the war Letterkenny Depot moved more than 3 million tons of supplies and was one of the largest depots of its kind. After the war Letterkenny was used to either store or destroy much of the ammunition that returned from overseas, and in 1954 became a permanent Army depot.

Today Letterkenny Army Depot is used to maintain, modify, and store tactical missiles and ammunition, and is under the control of the US Army Aviation and Missile Command (AAMC).

Fort Sill is a major U.S. Army installation located in southwest Oklahoma. It was originally founded to protect settlers in Texas from raids by the plains Indian tribes. Soldiers from famous units like the 7th Cavalry (led by Col. George A. Custer) and the 10th Cavalry (known as the Buffalo Soldiers) used Fort Sill during the Indian Wars. Geronimo, Kiowa Chief Satanta, and Comanche Chief Quanah Parker are among the famous Native American leaders buried there.

Established in 1941, shortly before entering World War II, Redstone Arsenal was used to manufacture chemical weapons, incendiary devices, tear gas, and small rockets. In 1949 Redstone Arsenal became the home of the US Army Ordnance Rocket Center, and used research and scientists brought from Germany to quickly test and begin work on ballistic missiles. Research on ballistic missiles has been a major part of Redstone Arsenal's work, at various times Redstone has housed the Ordnance Guided Missile School, the Army Ballistic Missile Agency, the Army Ordnance Missile Command, and the Army Missile Command.

Today Redstone Arsenal is still at the forefront of missile research, housing the Missile Defense Agency, Missile and Space Intelligence Center, and the Marshall Space Flight Center, which is NASA's field center for propulsion development.