Taking aim at YPG’s artillery testing facilities

Proving ground prepares to pull out its big guns for annual open house

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY)-Yuma Proving Ground's Open House is next weekend.

Today's highlight focuses on YPG's artillery testing.

Artillery testing is known to be a hard and physically exerting job. The purpose is to take out a target from afar range. This allows soldiers to then enter the area by foot. Tests include constantly moving projectiles around the field, which weigh about 100 pounds.

Chief of weapons operation division, Wayne Shielders, says "we work in all kinds of environments. Yuma assimulates the Middle East in a lot of ways. It's hot, dirty and dusty so it's a pretty robust environment."

A lot of the personnel running these tests come from an army or marine background. This helps testers know what they are getting themselves into.

The YPG 2020 event is on Saturday, February 15th at the proving ground. It starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, you can click here.