The California Gold Rush brought prosperous trade and unexpected trouble to the area. As California grew, and more travelers used the trails to enter the territory, raids and horse stealing became a problem. In 1846, the Army's "Mormon Battalion" patrolled the Fort Irwin area to control the raiding and horse stealing. During the Indian Wars the Army constructed a small stone fort overlooking Bitter Springs and patrolled the Fort Irwin area.
Camp Irwin reopened its gates in 1951 as the Armored Combat Training Area and served as a training center for combat units during the Korean War. Regimental tank companies of the 43d Infantry Division from Camp Pickett, Virginia were the first to train at the new facility.
The post was designated a permanent installation on 1 August 1961 and renamed Fort Irwin. During the Vietnam buildup, many units, primarily artillery and engineer, trained and deployed from Fort Irwin.
Main
phone numbers: Commercial (760)380-1111 or DSN
470-1111
Mailing
address: National Training Center, Fort
Irwin, CA 92310
Population:
5,523 active duty; 6,632 family members; 1,105
civilians
Housing: 2,028
family units; 150 family spaces at Barstow Marine Corps
Logistics base; 130 single service members units; 77
mobile-home spaces; wait up to six months (760)3803220
Temporary
lodging: 76 visitor units (760)380-4599
Family
Support Center: (760)380-3598
Schools: Elementary
and middle school on post
Child
Care: Center for 303; 52 approved homes
(760)380-1253
Health
care: 27-bed hospital. Appointments
(760)380-3124; Tricare (800)242-6788; benefits
(760)380-3164
Fort Irwin, CA
has a
large size commissary - (760)380-3422,
a small exchange, and two shoppettes (760)386-2060. Recreation at Fort Irwin, CA
includes arts and crafts, bowling, library, gym, tennis,
swimming, outdoor activities, and stables.
