The U.S. Naval Security Group Detachment Yakima, Washington was established in October, 1971 at the U.S. Army’s Yakima Training Center, Yakima Research Station.

On September 30, 2005, NSG Det Yakima was administratively closed and was re-established on October 1, 2005 as the Navy Information Operations Detachment (NIOD) Yakima, WA. NIOD Yakima is subordinate to and a detachment of NIOC Whidbey Island, Oak Harbor, WA. On August 1, 2013 NIOD Yakima was decommissioned.

The Yakima Training Center (YTC) is a 323,000-acre U.S. Army Training facility. The base is located seven miles north of Yakima on Interstate 82 and is the Army’s premier maneuver training area in the Northwest. YTC offers comprehensive training and logistics support to U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, active duty and National Guard/Reserve units, allies and federal agencies. The center contains housing for a 1,800 person brigade task force, as well as a post exchange, chapel, medical clinic, community club, post office, gymnasium, and airfield. Approximately 325 permanent military/civilian personnel are assigned.

The Yakima Research Station is a satellite communications earth station. The complex is located within the secure perimeter of the U.S. Army’s Yakima Firing Range, in the relatively radio interference-free environment of eastern Washington. It was originally built in the 1970’s to communicate with the Pacific Intelsat satellite. The site initially consisted of a long operations building and a single large satellite dish. In mid-1995, the Yakima station had five satellite dishes.

Detachment 4, U.S. Air force 544th Intelligence Group (the 544th IG HQ is located at Peterson Air Force Base, CO) was integrated with NSG Det Yakima. Detachment 4 was established on January 1, 1995; and officially activated on December 8, 1995.

History of Yakima

Yakima has been the cultural, business, educational, health services, and governmental focal point of the Central Washington region since it was founded more than 125 years ago. Originally built along the new Northern Pacific Railway company line, Yakima has grown from its agricultural roots to become a vibrant, diverse metropolitan city. With a rich history and a bright future, Yakima is the Heart of Central Washington.

Nobody really knows for sure how Yakima got its name. Of the many theories about the origins of the city’s name, one of the more popular is based on a legend about an Indian chief’s daughter who fled from her home after she broke tribal rules. The chief’s daughter made her home along the river named Yakama. The current City of Yakima is said to be located near the site where the chief’s daughter settled.

Another common belief is that Yakima is the plural form of the native word for black bear… yah-kah.

The first American expedition into the region occurred in 1805. Explorers Lewis and Clark made their way through the area and shared tales of abundant wildlife and rich soils. In 1847, a Catholic mission was established in what is now known as the Yakima Valley. In 1858, an American army garrison was sent by U.S. President James Buchanan to build Fort Simcoe and deal with ongoing battles between the native tribes of the area and white settlers. With Fort Simcoe in place and the so-called Yakima Indian Wars over, more white settlers came.

Yakima City was incorporated in 1883, but about a year later, a dispute between land owners and the Northern Pacific Railway Company led the railroad to establish a new town about 4 miles north of the original site. More than 100 buildings were moved by having horses pull them along atop rolling logs. The new town was called North Yakima and was officially incorporated in 1886. The Washington State Legislature officially renamed the city “Yakima” in 1918.

Sources:
navycthistory.com
https://www.yakimawa.gov