JACKSON — The Army is inviting reporters to watch training exercises at a National Guard base in south Mississippi, but officials say the invitation is not a reaction to complaints that soldiers at Camp Shelby are insufficiently trained for combat.
The First U.S. Army has trained nearly 20,000 National Guard soldiers from across the nation at Camp Shelby for missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army National Guard base was federally activated in 2004. There are nearly 6,000 soldiers from 22 states training there now.
The Army came under criticism last week when a congressman demanded a full investigation of training procedures at the Mississippi base after a Wisconsin soldier who trained there was killed in Iraq.
Lt. Col. Doril Sanders, a Camp Shelby spokesman, announced this week that the base is holding a media day on Aug. 15 “to allow news organizations an opportunity to witness firsthand some of the training.”
Sanders later told The Associated Press that the event “has been in the planning for weeks” and is not a reaction to the concerns voiced by U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.
Sensenbrenner is concerned about allegations that some soldiers’ preparation is inadequate, including a lack of enough vehicles for units to practice some maneuvers.
The problem could go beyond Camp Shelby. Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, who heads the National Guard Bureau, told reporters in Washington on Tuesday that at least two-thirds of Army National Guard brigades are not ready for combat, citing equipment shortages that could cost billions to alleviate.
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has asked Blum to investigate the situation at Camp Shelby in the wake of Spc. Stephen W. Castner’s death. Castner was killed July 24 by a roadside bomb just days into his unit’s deployment in Iraq.
The soldier’s father contacted Sensenbrenner with complaints that his son’s unit was not prepared for the mission at hand.
First U.S. Army spokesman Rick Thomas this week denied Sensenbrenner’s assertions that the training was not up to par, saying that Castner’s unit, the 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery Regiment, “was trained to standard.”
“But the enemy’s use of improvised explosive devices is one that we just can’t protect 100 percent against,” Thomas said.
Thomas reiterated that the media invitation to the 136,000-acre training facility was not meant to counter claims of inadequate training.
“We’ve been working on opportunities to highlight theater immersion training to show ... the type of training soldiers go through for a deployment into a combat zone,” Thomas said. “Part of that is so that friends and families recognize that the soldiers are getting theater-specific training that prepares them to do their job once they’re deployed.”
The military in the past has applauded its theater immersion training, which Thomas said is easily adapted to changes in the war zone.
The training at Camp Shelby is designed to simulate the sounds and sights soldiers will see in Iraq or Afghanistan. Arabic role players are a common site on the base and are used to teach soldiers how to deal with the Iraqi and Afghani people. A mock Middle Eastern city is carved out of the rolling hills and is peppered with blown up cars and weathered buildings spotted in Arabic graffiti.
“We train like we’re going to fight,” Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré, commanding general for First U.S. Army, said in a statement. Honoré is responsible for training the National Guard and Reserve forces for deployment.
“Our goal is to create a training environment that closely replicates the Iraq or Afghanistan theater,” he said. “The theater specific training is tough, realistic and repetitive, designed to develop soldiers and leaders who react intuitively to situations they will face in combat.”
Local News
Camp Shelby says media invitations not result of training complaints
- Local News
-
-
Police investigate several burglaries on Euclid Avenue
The Laurel Police Department has taken two people into custody as the police department continues to investigate several burglaries which have occurred in the Euclid Avenue area.
-
Rotarians see huge success
The Laurel Rotary Club saw a great turnout as they sold hundreds of spaghetti plates Saturday during its annual spaghetti dinner fundraiser.
-
Arrest made in ‘fire victim’ scam case
Local law enforcement authorities have arrested the man suspected of a number of scams in Jones and neighboring counties.
-
Council to discuss pay increase
The Laurel City Council next week will once again consider granting a change concerning the city’s building inspector.
-
Agriculture is big business in Miss.
Business and industry leaders, as well as Jones County Junior College students, gathered at Ronald E. Whitehead Advanced Technology Center Thursday for the college’s 7th Annual Economic and Technology Symposium.
-
American Red Cross looking for local volunteers
The East Central Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross is looking for a few good men, women, boys and girls to join its team of disaster volunteers.
-
Annual Rotary Club Spaghetti dinner Saturday
The Laurel Rotary Club will conduct its annual Spaghetti dinner this weekend at the YWCO.
-
Officials pleased with Chancellor’s appointment
At 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Lance Chancellor became the new executive director of the Jones County Emergency Management Agency.
-
Get ready for control burns in the area
Area motorists and residents may notice a lot of smoke coming from some of the county’s heavily wooded areas in the coming weeks.
-
Heidelberg has a new police chief
A longtime Jasper Countian has been named the head law enforcement official in this Jasper County town.
Huey Powe is now the Police Chief for the Town of Heidelberg. - More Local News Headlines
-
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Few Answers in Death of Sons of Missing Utah Mom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Raw Video: Deadly Helicopter Crash in Australia
Raw Video: Smoke, Purported Gunfire in Syria
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
Blast Kills Husband of Missing Utah Mom, 2 Boys
Obama: US, Israel Will Work Against Iran Nukes
NJ Museum Finds 19th Century Recording
Snow Causes Disruptions in Much of Europe
Clinton: Vetoed U.N. Syria Resolution 'travesty'
Romney Picks Up Decisive Win in Nevada Caucuses
Gingrich Renews Vow to Campaign Until Convention
Romney Rolls to Easy Win in Nevada GOP Caucuses
Raw Video: Missing Family Found Alive in Ore.
Police Clear Tents From Occupy Site in DC
