Military Training in the Middle of Miami Jolts Residents Out of Bed

May 10th, 2012

Via: Miami Herald:

No, there was no smell of napalm in the morning.

But there was the thunderous whump whump of low-flying helicopters, and even the jarring blast of explosions at the abandoned Grand Bay Hotel in Coconut Grove early Tuesday during a military training exercise that jolted many unsuspecting residents from their beds.

The maneuvers were part of a “realistic urban training” exercise for about 100 military personnel, and organized by the U.S. Special Operations Command, said Maj. Michael Burns, a U.S. Army spokesman. The exercise also included three military helicopters, and the use of simulated explosions and gunfire to mimic real-life military scenarios.

“They have to train in a realistic environment,” Burns said. “We didn’t use any real bullets,” he added reassuringly.

Miami police assisted in overseeing the exercises — but they were instructed to keep quiet about the exercises until late Monday, for security reasons. The police also blocked off roads around the Grand Bay during the exercise, Muir said.

“It was the federal government’s call on what was being done. We were courteously advised,” said Miami commissioner Marc Sarnoff, whose district includes Coconut Grove.

2 Responses to “Military Training in the Middle of Miami Jolts Residents Out of Bed”

  1. Zuma says:

    Miami left me long before I left Miami [12 years ago]. I missed Miami even when living there. I grew up there from the 50’s on and for me the biggest change was during the mid 80’s -more than even the 60’s.

    This article and it’s news is for me saddening.

    The 300+ comments were too much to go through completely but in the several pages of such I read through I had the sense that the outrage was not borne of folks who remember when things were different but of a mostly younger generation who are simply outraged by the current events themselves. Their detractors are there too, as ever with the ‘tin foil’ charges (that are parried with history).

    & links such as this,
    Camp FEMA: American Lockdown
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxOAK7iOlVk

  2. Eileen says:

    Uh, and duh.
    “They have to train in a realistic environment,” Burns said.
    When did all of the wars we are fighting around the world suddenly become “unrealistic?” that the troops partipating in these “exercises” need to “practice” in Miami! fer crying out loud?!
    Smells like someone is practicing for a military take over of the U.S government and wow. If I were BO I’d be really worried about who my friends and enemies are right now.

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