KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Kayla Desroches/KMXT
Navy representatives will speak to the public in Kodiak today to address concerns about training exercises in the Gulf of Alaska.
Captain Raymond Hesser is the Chief of Plans for Alaskan Command and says he will talk about the training and an expert on the environmental impact study will explain the science behind Northern Edge.
He says the EIS documents approve more activity than this year’s training would actually include.
“Although the environmental impact study allows and analyzes the impact for certain activities like that, the training objectives for Northern Edge 15 do not include dropping bombs or shooting missiles over the water in the Gulf of Alaska,” says Hesser.
He says the training has a different emphasis.
“Training objectives this year are largely in the area of air, maritime integration,” says Hesser. “We’re looking for command and control communication, these are all… The best way I can describe that, using the equipment for the aircraft and the ships to be able to communicate with each other and share a common picture.”
You can learn more about the Navy training and ask questions of your own at the community forum, which is hosted by the Kodiak Chamber of Commerce. It will begin at 4:30 p.m. at the Kodiak Convention Center and continue until 6:30 p.m.
