MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. --
Lynchburg Va., area residents can expect an increase in
military aircraft traffic in the vicinity of the Falwell Airport April 21,
2015.
Marines and Sailors of the Camp Lejeune, N.C.-based 26th
Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) will conduct training near at the airport as part
of their realistic urban training exercise, or RUT.
Residents may notice various military aircraft flying
through the area and may see military vehicles and personnel April 21. Types of aircraft participating in the
training include MV-22 Ospreys, UH-1 Hueys, CH-53E Super Stallions, AH-1 Cobras
and AV-8B Harriers.
Since 1985, the three Camp Lejeune-based MEUs have used
numerous cities throughout the United States to simulate the kinds of
environments to which MEUs are often called in a crisis as realistically as
possible.
The Marines initiated their pre-deployment training
program in March and will conduct a series of land-based exercises and numerous
at-sea periods with their Navy counterparts. RUT is the 26th MEU's first major
exercise in the program.
The 26th MEU is composed of its command element;
Battalion Landing Team (BLT) 2st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment; Marine Medium
Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 (Reinforced); and Combat Logistics Battalion 26.
The MEU is slated to be the landing force for the
Norfolk-based Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), which consists of the
amphibious assault ships USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), USS Arlington (LPD 24) and USS
Oak Hill (LSD 51).
The MEU and Kearsarge ARG are scheduled to deploy in Fall
2015 to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility to serve as a
sea-based, expeditionary crisis response force capable of conducting amphibious
missions across the full range of military operations.
If residents have concerns about the training or
questions about the noise of the aircraft the following number is provided as
an information "hotline": 910-467-8693.