SAN DIEGO – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema—a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee—toured the U.S. Navy SEALs’ Naval Amphibious Base this week to see firsthand the premier training facilities for our nation’s Navy SEALs and thank servicemembers for their service and sacrifice.
“Navy SEALs and servicemembers across the country sacrifice so much for our nation. It was an honor to see the incredible NAVY SEALs’ training operations firsthand and I join all Arizonans in thanking them for keeping us safe and secure,” said Sinema.
The Naval Amphibious Base is the only Naval amphibious base on the West Coast. The amphibious base includes 5,500 yards of Pacific Ocean and bayside beachfront that is used for training. This area, along with 2,000 yards of Pacific Ocean beachfront on the Silver Strand, provide operators with 7,500 yards of expansive beaches, unique topography, and on-base facilities that encompass a critical area for amphibious and clandestine training in support of special warfare operations. Naval Amphibious Base Coronado and its adjacent beaches provide training for Navy SEALs, amphibious insertion and other small units.
Sinema has long been a champion for Arizona veterans and servicemembers. Last Congress, Sinema passed into law her bipartisan Sgt. Daniel Somers Network of Support Act, which was named after Sgt. Daniel Somers—an Arizona Army veteran who lost his life to suicide. Sinema’s bipartisan law requires the Department of Defense to work with the American Red Cross to collect from new servicemembers the names of loved ones they consider to be their networks of support. The Department of Defense will provide those individuals with information about benefits and services available to military members. This year, Sinema and Republican Senator John Cornyn (Texas) introduced the Service Member Safety and Security Act, which directs military branches to seek a Memorandum of Understanding with local law enforcement agencies and coordinate regarding a servicemember’s missing status, strengthening the protections and accountability of servicemembers.
