Silver Strand Training Complex, California

The Silver Strand Training Complex, formerly known as the Naval Radio Receiving Facility (NRRF), has become the premier training facility for the military's special forces. Located on the Imperial Beach / Coronado border, this facility is known by locals as the "elephant cage" which is the nickname of a large landmark located there, the large "Wollan Weber" circular antenna. The antenna area was used several years ago to provide primary communication links for the Navy's submarine community. Today this 450-acre facility provides an excellent training environment with waterborne approaches from both the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay sides. The city-like layout of the base also provides a realistic site for critical urban warfare training.

The antenna was finally dismantled in 2015, even though it was scheduled to be removed in fiscal year 2007.

Training at SSTC has been conducted on land, water surface, sub-surface, and air since 1942, primarily for Special Warfare, Expeditionary Warfare, Over-the-Beach Logistics, and Mobility Training.

For amphibious operations training, the beaches of the base have been designated Beach White and Beach Purple, each with two training lanes.