Weapons firings, aircraft noise part of Ranger training exercise

Training ranges and skies over Fort Benning will be busy with aircraft overhead and Rangers on the ground as part of a joint training exercise.

In addition to activity at Fort Benning and near the Columbus area, the routine training also will be at Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah and Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta beginning Monday through June 13, a public affairs spokeswoman said Friday. About 800 soldiers will take part in the training exercise.

Units taking part in the training include 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment from Fort Campbell, Clarksville, Ky., and the Air Force Special Operations Command from Hurlburt Field in Mary Esther, Fla.

The joint training with units is not new at Fort Benning. “They have been training for many years,” said spokeswoman Elsie Jackson.

Helicopters and fixed wing aircraft will be in the area. Training ammunition and other devices will make the exercise as realistic as possible.

Officials said the helicopters and aircraft will be flying low during night exercise, increasing air traffic and noise with the operation. Measures will be taken to reduce the amount of noise from the exercise.

“There should be little impact to the Fort Benning community,” said Tracy Bailey, a public affairs spokeswoman for the 75th Ranger Regiment.

The training is aimed at maintaining soldiers at a high level of readiness.

To conduct the exercise, safety surveys and risk assessment are prepared before and during the military operations.

The 75th Ranger Regiment, which includes the 3rd Battalion based at Fort Benning, is a lethal, agile and versatile special operations force that conducts forcible entry and other combat operations. To test the readiness of the units, such exercises are the best method to test their capabilities.

Anyone with questions about the training should contact the Public Affairs Office for the 75th Ranger Regiment at 706-545-4260.

Soure: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com