Explosives training begins near NC coast. You may want to avoid these areas
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- MCAS Cherry Point will conduct boat and explosive ordnance training beginning June 13.
- Residents can expect occasional loud explosions that may go as late as midnight.
- Training will use surrounding waterways and include special boat teams and simulations.
Officials at the Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point announced that boat and explosive training will begin on Saturday, June 13 and continue through the month.
The airfield in Havelock, North Carolina, near the southern coast, will use surrounding waterways to conduct explosive ordnance training. Residents who live near the area can expect “occasional loud explosions” that “may go as late as midnight on various days during the period.”
Cherry Point neighbors many camps, pools, parks and recreational centers and areas along the Neuse River. The intermittently-booming MCAS training lines up with the upcoming holiday Juneteenth and may not be exclusive to business hours.
The News & Observer reached out to MCAS Cherry Point and Marine Corps Installations Easton with more questions on June 11 and 12 and are still awaiting a response.
The increased military activity is a part of the air station’s Explosive Ordnance unit training. Ordnance refers to materials used in warfare such as firearms, bombs, rockets and missiles. The simulation will also include special boat teams.
Cherry Point’s river access is opposite the YMCA’s Camp Seafarer and Minnesott Beach in Arapahoe, North Carolina.
The News & Observer reported on other bases’ training announcements to ensure safety for civilians in surrounding areas. The scope of Cherry Point’s training is unconfirmed.