; Whereas modern helicopter gunships are descendants of the 1963 test program at Fort Sill; Whereas, on August 8, 1990, Fort Sill became actively involved in supporting Operation Desert Shield, with initial activities centered around the preparation of III Corps Artillery units for deployment; Whereas, during Operation Desert Shield, Fort Sill— (1) deployed 19 Active and 20 Reserve units; (2) processed 9,246 Active and 1,397 Reserve personnel; (3) trained, equipped, and validated reserve component units and personnel; (4) supported active component units and personnel; (5) prepared and shipped equipment to ports for shipment to the battlefield; and (6) with help from Army Reserve units, expanded the training base for initial military training; Whereas, during Operation Desert Shield, Fort Sill agencies supported Active and Reserve component units and personnel with all classes of supply, medical, dental, maintenance, personnel, finance, training, and transportation services prior to deployment; Whereas Fort Sill immediately implemented its force-protection plan the morning of September 11, 2001— (1) by opening its installation operations center to coordinate security measures around the clock; and (2) by activating its quick-reaction force— (A) to guard the outer perimeter roads; (B) to serve as roving security patrols; and (C) to perform other security duties; Whereas, in response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, Fort Sill furnished security personnel for high-risk targets and hardened major entries with concrete and water-filled blocks, while at the same time continuing its primary mission of training officers, new soldiers, and noncommissioned officers; Whereas Fort Sill supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan— (1) by serving as a mobilization station for— (A) the 5045th Garrison Support Unit (Military Police), which augmented installation security efforts; (B) the 1st Battalion, 379th Field Artillery, which augmented the training base