NORTH AMERICAN AIR DEFENSE COMMAND (NORAD) -- The North American
Air Defense Command is located beneath Cheyenne Mountain southwest of Colorado
Springs. The complex inside the mountain consists of 15 steel
buildings constructed in tunnels and chambers cut into the
rock. Traditionally, NORAD has been poised to use high-tech radar to
provide early warning of aircraft, missiles or space vehicles posing threat to
the United States or Canada. With the diminished threat of nuclear
attack because of the end of the Cold War, NORAD is among area military
facilities providing new applications for its technologies, such as tracking
satellites and acting as a key element in global positioning
systems.
PETERSON AFB -- Peterson Air Force Base was originally known as
"Pete Field" when it was a fighter training post and a civilian airport before
and during World War II. Today, it is a vital part of national
security protecting the United States and our North American
neighbors. In 2002, Peterson was honored to be selected as the home
of Northern Command, a military support component of homeland
defense. Over 5,500 active military personnel work at
Peterson.
SCHREIVER AFB (formerly Falcon AFB) -- Schreiver AFB, the
newest base in the United States, is a satellite control facility 12 miles east
of Colorado Springs with 4,078 military and civilian employees and a payroll of
$103 million. The biggest unit at the base controls a worldwide
network of military satellite tracking stations. Schreiver has become
the Defense Department's primary military space systems control
facility.
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY -- While many cities in the
United States have military bases within their boundaries, the presence of the
United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs is a unique
attribute. The Academy is the training ground for tomorrow's Air
Force leaders. A scenic 18,000 acres are set aside for the training
grounds and facilities for what has become a combination university and boot
camp. Each year, nearly 10,000 men and women seek the 1,000 entering
freshman slots. Approximately 4,300 cadets attend the Academy.