KAILUA-KONA — Military training exercises are underway at Pohakuloa Training Area. ADVERTISING KAILUA-KONA — Military training exercises are underway at Pohakuloa Training Area. They’re part of normal exercises at the U.S. Army joint multinational facility situated between Mauna Kea and
KAILUA-KONA — Military training exercises are underway at Pohakuloa Training Area.
They’re part of normal exercises at the U.S. Army joint multinational facility situated between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. In recent days, some of the training has been more visible, particularly along Mamalahoa Highway (Highway 190) in the vicinity of the entrance to Old Saddle Road, near mile marker 6.
Eric Hamilton, public affairs officer for PTA, said about 2,700 troops are currently on the ground representing 16 different units, hailing from as far away as Ohio. He noted that the Army sent out in mid-May training schedules and this week released its training schedules for July.
Mortar live-fire, helicopter gunnery, artillery live-fire and mounted live-fire training is slated through the end of the month. Next month, helicopter gunnery training is slated July 5-11; mortar live-fire training July 7-Aug. 6; unmanned aerial vehicle operations July 17-31; and artillery live-fire exercises July 31-Aug. 5.
The training schedules are vague because of the ever-changing nature of the training exercises, Hamilton said. They’re meant to inform the community about noise so that preparations can be made, such as securing animals that may be frightened.
