The Operational Test Command (OTC) is a unit of the United States Army responsible for testing and evaluating military equipment prior to their acquisition or fielding. It was established in 1989, following the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986, which aimed to improve joint interoperability and streamline the Pentagon’s management structure. The OTC is headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland and has three test sites: White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona, and Fort Bliss in Texas. The command ensures that Army acquisitions meet operational requirements and are reliable, effective, and suitable for use by soldiers under realistic conditions.