Back ‘in the day’ when I spent many Summers, and occasional weekends (as both a 13F and a 19K), on what is now known as Orchard Combat Training Area (OCTC) it was called Orchard Training Area (OTA), and it is not in Boise, it is at least 18 miles south of Boise.  Since the name was changed (sometime between 2011 and 2012) to OCTC the area has been greatly expanded and is now part of the larger Orchard Training Complex (OTC).

In March 2025, the U.S. Army’s 17th Field Artillery Brigade (from Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington) took part in wargame Rocky Mountain Thunder on Idaho’s Orchard Combat Training Center (OCTC, 18 miles south of Boise), which included live fire of their HiMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System). Video interview via Sergeant Rebecca Watkins:

I edited together from videos via Sergeant Shadica T. Price (recorded between 22 & 24 March) of day & night live-fire:

Rocky Mountain Thunder also included base defense training. I edited together from video via Sergeant Shadica T. Price:

Also in March, the Idaho Army National Guard’s 1-183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion conducted joint sling-load training with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade (Joint Base Lewis-McChord).

In April 2025, Montana Army National Guard’s 1-189th General Support Aviation Battalion conducted M240 machinegun qualifications/Helicopter Aerial Gunnery (HAG) on Idaho’s OCTC (Orchard Combat Training Center, 18 miles south of Boise).

From 04-09 of May, Idaho’s OCTC hosted the Region-6 Best Warrior Competition.

February 2024: Oregon gets new weapons, shoots-up Idaho?

February 2023: Idaho’s Combat Training Area expanded! Millions spent on fire fighting!

October 2022: IDAHO’s upgraded OCTC INVADED BY APACHES FROM ARIZONA & SINGAPORE?

Idaho now premiere site for War-Fighter training! National Guard the new Quick Reaction Force!

June 2022: California, Iowa, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington invade Rebel Idaho!?

March 2022: Idaho…  First time use of Javelin missiles!

August 2021: SINGAPORE APACHES TEST IDAHO’S NEW OCTC D-A-G-I-R SYSTEM

April 2021: IDAHO’s OCTC HOME TO FIRST EVER NATIONAL GUARD D-A-G-I-R!

March 2021: Idaho shows you how to engine swap a M113 on the OCTC-MATES.

September 2018: United States invades Idaho!

2017: Idaho’s OCTC is part of prepping for “Near Peer Threats”, code for Russia & China and the coming 3rd World War!

September 2014: “This is where armor fights!” Idaho National Guard returns to Cold War era ‘Total Force’ warfare training!