Are You Crazy?

KXAN reported on a topic that has seem to get the people of Bastrop County all riled up. The topic is Operation Jade Helm. This article has sparked my interest, and I feel it is important to relay reliable information as oppose to rumors.

The special operation training, known as Operation Jade Helm 15, is an eight-week exercise from July 15- Sept.15, and is an exercise to Special Operations soldiers in all branches of the military for unconventional warfare. It is happening in not only Texas, but Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. Many Bastrop County neighbors have questions to why the soldiers do not train at Fort Bragg, NC., where they have thousands of acres of land. Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria said Realistic Military Training, or RMT, happens off of federal reservations and on private property because soldiers have to learn how to adapt to unfamiliar terrain. Lastoria stated that people hear about RMTs and volunteer their private land to military training, which is what is said to have happened in Bastrop. There is only going to be 60 troops, two Humvees and a tank used to carry water. The training includes role playing, with soldiers in their uniform and others in civilian clothing. There will not be live ammunition, but may use blanks, also medics on hand and fire extinguishers if needed.

With that being said, there is still skepticism about what the government is really doing and what they are here for. Social media has put out theories of martial law and some of the residents of Bastrop County believe this theory,while others do not. I, personally, do not believe the government is training for martial law out there. I believe what is stated, is what is being conducted. My husband is a marine officer and has been apart of one of these exercises before. I think it is wrong for the media to misinform the public and to keep reporting on such ridiculous claims. I believe the military is taking all the proper precautions, especially for safety. I think the author, Anna Wiernicki, targeted the confused audience to be wary of the government. She posted what these people are scared of and how they feel. Some will pry on this making this issue a lot worse than it is. She did state the mayor does not feel like this is an issue and to put people at ease, they have involved the Texas National Guard.