BEST45CAL
03-09-2001, 11:32 AM
New York Guard won’t train in state parks for combat
Associated Press
March 6, 2001
The National Guard in Moreau, N.Y., won’t use state parks as military training grounds after last summer’s controversy when civilians were startled to see machine-gun toting soldiers roaming the woods.
Guard members still may use the parks to train for search and rescue missions or aerial firefighting, said Scott Sandman, spokesman for New York’s Division of Military and Naval Affairs.
But drills that include weapons will not be permitted. Those exercises will be limited to state or federal military installations, Sandman said.
In May, Army National Guard soldiers driving a dozen vehicles, including Humvees with mounted machine guns, startled picnickers at Moreau State Park. There were even fake casualties.
Police said the Guard had a permit to invade the picnic site but were not supposed to bring in weapons. Because the park was not officially open, the Guard troops did not rope off the area or post signs. The soldiers stopped the exercise after the incident.
Associated Press
March 6, 2001
The National Guard in Moreau, N.Y., won’t use state parks as military training grounds after last summer’s controversy when civilians were startled to see machine-gun toting soldiers roaming the woods.
Guard members still may use the parks to train for search and rescue missions or aerial firefighting, said Scott Sandman, spokesman for New York’s Division of Military and Naval Affairs.
But drills that include weapons will not be permitted. Those exercises will be limited to state or federal military installations, Sandman said.
In May, Army National Guard soldiers driving a dozen vehicles, including Humvees with mounted machine guns, startled picnickers at Moreau State Park. There were even fake casualties.
Police said the Guard had a permit to invade the picnic site but were not supposed to bring in weapons. Because the park was not officially open, the Guard troops did not rope off the area or post signs. The soldiers stopped the exercise after the incident.