Free Republic

From people upset at being kept awake by explosions and helicopters to conspiracy-minded theorists with their own explanations, Tinley Park citizens were outspoken on the Defense Department's urban training exercises. Read what they had to say. (TWEETS-AT-LINK) The U.S. Department of Defense's two-night stint of urban training exercises on the grounds of the closed Tinley Park Mental Health Center ended early Thursday. The highlight of the final night, which began Wednesday, April 24, and went until about 1 a.m. Thursday, April 25, were numerous flyovers from military helicopters using the village's helipad. And even though the drills were being staged...

December 10, 2008 The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, in coordination with the FBI and local officials, will be conducting a Realistic Urban Training Exercise (RUT) in the Richmond, Va. area Jan. 9-24, 2008. Other areas in Central Virginia may notice the military aircraft flying overhead. This training exercise involves about 2,200 Marines and sailors from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (22nd MEU) stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The large majority of the Marines will be training on Fort Pickett. The purpose of RUT is to enhance the 22nd MEU's capability to conduct operations in a realistic urban environment prior...