FORT CAMPBELL, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – Area residents should be prepared for additional military air and highway traffic from May 1-10, as the 101st Airborne Division conducts a major training event, spanning locations in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.
This exercise is designed to assess the division’s ability to conduct large-scale, long-range air assault operations in conjunction with training scenarios that will test their communication, logistical resupply and tactical abilities, according to a news release. The exercise will include a historic number of aircraft from the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., combining “Screaming Eagles” and “All-American” soldiers.
All military training will take place on military installations or local airfields. However, residents may see or hear an increased presence of helicopters and ground vehicles moving around the region.
Army helicopters and supporting sustainment elements will establish Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs) for aircraft flying between Fort Campbell and Fort Johnson in Louisiana. Military ground vehicles will also be moving between Fort Campbell and these cities:
- Oxford, Mississippi (University-Oxford Airport)
- Vicksburg, Mississippi (Vicksburg Tallulah Regional Airport)
- Minden, Louisiana (Camp Minden Training Site)
- Alexandria, Louisiana (Alexandria International Airport)
“We’re alerting the public to prepare nearby communities for an increase in noise and traffic during this exercise,” said Lt. Col. Martin Meiners, spokesperson for the 101st. “Our priority is the safety of our soldiers and the citizens of nearby communities, and we are grateful for the support from local citizens, local leaders and the Mississippi and Louisiana National Guard.”
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