[CPEO-MEF] Troops may use Waikane for counterterror drills

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

Posted on: Friday, July 19, 2002
Troops may use Waikane for counterterror drills
By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

In hopes of replicating counterterrorism training under conditions like 
the Philippines jungles, U.S. Marines are considering a return to 
Waikane Valley for military exercises for the first time since 1976.

But Marine officials insisted that no live-fire training would be 
conducted at the 187-acre site six north of Kane'ohe, something that has 
been a concern to community leaders since the mid-1940s, when training 
first began in the valley area that the Marines still own.

"It would be either paintball or blank-fire," said Maj. Chris Hughes, 
public affairs director for Marine Corps Base Hawai'i in Kane'ohe. 
"We're looking at high-value, low-impact training here."

Officials at the Kane'ohe base are awaiting a decision from Marine Corps 
headquarters in Washington by the end of the month on whether to move 
ahead with plans to resume training. It would take approximately six to 
nine months to complete an environmental assessment that is required 
before any training could begin.

This article can be viewed in its entirety at:
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2002/Jul/19/ln/ln07a.html

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