Military exercise with NATO allies to be staged in coastal NC town, USMC says

>Swansboro, NC

U.S. Marines and NATO allies will descend on a coastal North Carolina town as part of a gritty urban training exercise, according the II Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Lejeune. It’s scheduled to happen Aug. 4 and Aug. 5 in Swansboro, which sits along on the Intracoastal Waterway. The town of 4,000 people is about 20-miles northeast of Camp Lejeune.

“U.S. Marines and NATO allies will be conducting urban close-air-support training exercises,” the force reported in a July 30 news release. “During this period, community members may notice military personnel in both military and civilian attire wearing tactical gear (and) increased military aircraft and vehicles on the roads. … These exercises may cause brief disruptions, and the public’s patience and understanding are appreciated.” The fake conflict is intended to prepare service members for “real-world scenarios” in urban areas, officials said. The II Marine Expeditionary Force reports it has “coordinated extensively” with community leaders and first responders “to ensure that all activities are conducted safely and with as little impact on the local community as possible.” Swansboro is about a 140-mile drive southeast from downtown Raleigh.

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