JADE HELM 15 TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE BEFORE BASHROP COUNTY OFFICIALS

http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local/jade-helm-15-to-make-appearance-before-bastrop-cou/nkz4w/

Representatives for a U.S. Special Operations Command training scheduled over the summer in Bastrop County will again present information regarding the exercise to county commissioners.

Officials with JADE HELM 15, as the training is called, will lay out details of their months-long training to commissioners at their Monday, April 27 Commissioner Court meeting.

Officials say the training, which will be held in Bastrop County from July 15 to Sept. 15, will develop techniques and tactics needed by the military to defend U.S. interests around the globe.

U.S. Army carries out a training exercise.

Many Americans have expressed strong concern over the training on social media, and locally some Bastrop County residents have stated their apprehension for the military training to local county officials. Officials have responded by saying that JADE HELM 15, a form of Realistic Military Training (RMT), will coordinate with local law enforcement agencies and local property owners affected by this training exercise.

“The nature of warfare is always changing and U.S. Army Special Operations Command’s mission is to make certain the Army’s various Special Operations Forces are trained, equipped and organized to successfully conduct worldwide special operations in support of our nation’s interest,” Army Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria, a command spokesman, told the Washington Post in an email, according to a March 31 news article. “Training exercise Jade Helm is going to assist our Special Operations Soldiers and leadership in refining the skills needed against an ever changing foreign threat.”

According to information received by the county, RMT is training conducted outside of federally owned property. The RMT process is designed to ensure proper coordination between Department of Defense representatives and local and regional authorities. The process includes the following measures:

- Risk Assessment, Medical, and Communications Plans

- MOU, MOA, and Licensing agreements (training areas, staging areas, role players)

- Legal Review

- ID of training, staging areas, role players, airfield, drop zones and landing zones surveys

- Letters of Invitations obtained from the local officials (Mayor, County Commission)

- Coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement

- Public Affairs Review

The JADE HELM 15 presentation to commissioners will be held in the Commissioners Courtroom at 804 Pecan St., 2nd floor, and is open to the public. The meeting starts at 9 a.m., the military training presentation is scheduled for 11 a.m.