As a Brigadier General, I implore President Biden to designate the Chuckwalla Monument
Through 31 years of uniformed military service, I’ve learned a great deal about the military women and men who bravely defend this nation. I’ve read their storied histories and have been inspired by their selfless leadership, devotion and sacrifice displayed during past wars. I’ve seen those same timeless traits during the conflicts of this generation – ordinary citizens stepping up in the harshest of conditions to show the strength of the American spirit.
I’ve also seen the impacts of such service on those in uniform and the families who love them. Which is why it’s so critical for our nation to both honor our history of military service and support those who carry on its storied legacy.
Protecting public lands does both.
The Biden administration understands that, and I applaud their recent designations of Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument in Colorado and Castner Range National Monument in Texas. Using the power delegated to the executive branch through the Antiquities Act, President Biden has ensured that the future of these historic places is protected and conserved for generations of veterans and civilians alike.
Today, I urge the Biden administration to continue their commitment to public lands and public service by designating the Chuckwalla National Monument and protecting public lands adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park in the California desert. I recently joined other retired generals and flag officers in signing an open letter to the administration in support of the proposed monument and hope to see the president take action.
Veterans have long been champions of conservation and public lands movements and none more so than our Native American and Hispanic veteran communities. A national monument designation would help increase well-deserved access to public lands for these often under-resourced communities, and help provide the physical, mental and social benefits that come from time spent in nature.
Covering 660,000 acres, the monument would not only protect crucial biodiversity in our environment, but it would also serve as a safeguard for preserving an important piece of our military history.
This proposed national monument, home to what was once a part of General Patton’s Desert Training Center, now supports exercises from four of the six branches of the U.S. military. During World War II, the U.S. identified and developed nearly 12,000 acres of the California and Arizona deserts as an Army training facility. Operating in the early 1940s, the facility was originally intended to prepare troops for battle in the North African deserts and was therefore given the name of the Desert Training Center. More than 1 million men were trained at the facility, or roughly 10% of all U.S. servicemen who served in WWII.
Outside of training, this designation will provide space for military families to recover and reconnect from the rigors of military life. Located near five major military bases – Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (China Lake), Chocolate Mountain Aerial Gunnery Range, Edwards Air Force Base, Fort Irwin National Training Center and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (29 Palms) – the national monument will serve military communities for generations to come.
No one understands the need for balanced priorities like military commanders. This is why I was encouraged to learn that the proposed national monument is complementary to the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan. The DRECP identified areas suitable for renewable energy development as well as lands that should be protected for their biological, cultural, recreation and other values. Permanently protecting these lands will help to fulfill the DRECP’s goal of balanced development and conservation. It’s a victory on multiple fronts.
In the fight for progress, momentum is key. I join my fellow veterans in calling on the Biden administration to capitalize on the recent momentum for permanently protecting public lands.
Please designate the Chuckwalla National Monument and protect lands adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park as the next step toward preserving beloved open space and honoring our uniformed public servants in the California Desert.
Brigadier General Steve Anderson is a retired highly experienced logistician, environmental advocate, project manager, business developer and service-disabled military veteran who served 31 years in the U.S. Army. He is a board member of Vet Voice Foundation, a nonpartisan veterans advocacy organization that represents more than 1.5 million vets and military families. He can be reached at info@vvfnd.org.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: I urge the Biden administration to designate the Chuckwalla National Monument
