Big Island residents are advised to be aware of increased military traffic both on the ground and in the air as a large-scale U.S. Army training exercise takes place over the next few weeks.
Tropic Lightning Soldiers from the Army’s 25th Infantry Division will participate in the Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center, an Army training operation to be held on the Big Island and Oahu primarily from Nov. 1 through Nov. 10.
Throughout the exercise, the Army warns, frequent military convoys may continue traveling to and from Pohakuloa Training Area from Kawaihae Harbor using the Daniel K. Inouye Highway.
Training at PTA will include blank ammunition, simulated explosions and aircraft noise. ”These aspects are essential to replicating large-scale ground and multi-domain combat, stressing every war-fighting capability and function,” according to an Army press release.
Significant air traffic also is expected beginning this Thursday through Nov. 16 at Hilo International Airport and PTA’s Bradshaw Army Airfield in service of the JPMRC and mass-tactical jump operations to be held on Oahu.
Aircraft may land or take off from both locations during early morning or late-night hours.
Maj. Jeff Tolbert, public affairs officer with the Army’s 25th Infantry Division, said the training scenario will involve over 5,000 troops and simulates a combat scenario in which forces moving from island to island, and will therefore require heavy troop movements and aircraft flying in to Big Island airports.
To avoid overly “scripting” the exercise, details about when and where personnel and equipment will be traveling have not yet been disclosed. However, Tolbert said that such details will be released to the public as soon as they are available in order to keep residents abreast of potential traffic.
Tolbert added that there will be an increase in military fixed-wing aircraft arriving at Hilo International Airport, while rotary-wing aircraft will land and refuel at Bradshaw.
Residents are advised to use caution when encountering military convoys and not weave in-and-out of them.
To report concerns related to convoys or training, contact the Public Affairs Office at (808) 824-1474 during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.