DEER SPRINGS: Military checkpoint along I-15 part of massive exercise
By North County Times | ∞
Members of the U.S. Army's 257 Mobile Control Battalion set up a checkpoint Wednesday in Escondido next to the Deer Springs onramp to Interstate 15. (Photo by Nick Morris -for the North County Times) DEER SPRINGS ---- A military checkpoint has been set up beside an onramp to Interstate 15 as part of a massive joint Army-Navy logistics exercise that involves moving people and equipment from Hawaii to Fort Irwin near Barstow, Army Sgt. 1st Class David Gillespie said.
The checkpoint along the onramp from Deer Springs Road to I-15 includes a tent and allows military officials to track equipment and personnel as they pass through during their journey, he said.
The checkpoint north of Escondido was set up Monday and will remain until the exercise ends Aug. 3, said 1st Sgt. Cleveland McGill. It will be manned 24 hours a day, he said. Another similar checkpoint has been set up in Barstow, he said.
More than 3,000 soldiers and sailors are part of the Exercise Pacific Strike, Gillespie said, and they're moving about 1,500 vehicles from the California coast to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, he said.
The exercise is being done to prepare the soldiers and sailors for deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and to test readiness for moving people and equipment from sea to land, he said.
It began July 1 in Hawaii with the equipment and some of the people boarding ships bound for California, he said.
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Mr. Weenus wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:40 PM:Wow - let's waste tax dollars by sending soldiers on pretend camping trips. This is sure to impact congestion. Sandag is behind this somehow!
sjs wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:48 PM:Mr. Weenus our soldiers that keep us safe need training. Or should we just send them on their way with none?
Better Idea wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:05 PM:Send Mr. Weenus instead of our troops. Since he thinks that the valuable training our troops get is a waste of money/time, he should do very well without any training on his tour in Iraq.
bbailey wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:06 PM:Ms. Weenus - Probably shouldn't let our military do any training. That way when they actually have to do something (like defend their countrymen or something expensive like that) and hopefully it's for you directly, they'll screw it all up and you can whine about that too. Sure will save a lot of tax dollars though!
Patriotic Hapa wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:17 PM:Just tuning up for the Persian Gulf amphibious invasion of Iran after the aerial attack ends OOOH RAHHHH!!!!
alfredo wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:29 PM:This is just training for when Bush declares martial law towards the end of October and scuttles the election until Obama has been taken care of.
not amused wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:45 PM:Mr. Weenus thinks his freedom comes from the military, who pretend to be training. Weenus, are you pretending to be that ignorant or is that for real?
Beth wrote on Jul 23, 2008 5:14 PM:Mr Weenus? yikes! We want our boys to ready
cheap wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:21 PM:Training is cheap. Losing men, time and material due to inadequate training is expensive. Mr. Weenus is penny-wise but pound-foolish.
I have a better idea wrote on Jul 24, 2008 1:03 AM:Quite training to invade other countries for economic gain.
Conerned wrote on Jul 24, 2008 7:33 AM:Mr. Weenus,
There's a clue shop at Grand/Kalmia, you should pay it a visit.
To I hve a better idea.... wrote on Jul 24, 2008 8:03 AM:what an ignorant comment. I think it is right up there with Weenus. I don't care if this campsite slows traffic or anything. Let the military do what they have to do to prepared.
I guess people should start showing support for these men and woman. Instead of bashing the war, support them. They HAVE NO CHOICE, but to go and fight. That is what the military does. You have a problem with he war go to the big White house on Pennsylvania ave, don't make stupid comments towards our military. Grow up while your at it.
To Alfredo wrote on Jul 24, 2008 11:18 AM:Glad to see you have your eyes open. More Americans need to get out of the deep sleep sheep state that they are in, and open their eyes to the fact that your statement is indeed a reality.
George wrote on Jul 25, 2008 12:44 PM:Hey Al & the deep sleep sheep comment person. These operations are ongoing throughout amerika only to get the DEEP ASLEEP SHEEP accustomed to seeing troops on our streets. I used to train on White & Red beach and this whole operation could be conducted on base. I have also trained many years at Ft. Irwin...and against OPFOR and know that post like the back of my hand. There's probably a FEMA installation there for the deep asleep.
beana wrote on Jul 28, 2008 10:33 AM:I think that the military does slightly lame/pointless exercises like this all the time. That's just how they operate. They are probably doing exactly what the article says; they are doing this for hands on experience for our guys and teaching them how to do this whole thing right the first time and efficiantly for when they do go over there.
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