[FOX] The Navy has used Washington state coastal parks for over 30 years for SEAL cold water training and other special operations exercises, with leaders saying the area offers the perfect environment to simulate what the elite forces may encounter on difficult operations overseas.
"This area provides a unique environment of cold water, extreme tidal changes, multi-variant currents, low visibility, complex underwater terrain, climate and rigorous land terrain, which provides an advanced training environment," Navy spokesman Joe Overton told Coffee or Die Magazine.
But the Navy's use of Washington shoreline has recently come under fire from local residents who are concerned about both the physiological and environmental impact the SEAL training can have on others using the parks.
"I do not care to catch a glimpse of apparently armed men skulking around and I DEFINITELY do not want to risk having my young grandchildren see such a sight," a resident wrote to state regulators during a public comment period while the state was attempting to renew its agreement with the Navy.
Other residents expressed similar concerns, arguing that the parks are supposed to serve as a place to relax for residents.
"In these days of great division in our civil society, we don’t need stealthy men in camo uniforms toting toy guns around our State and County Parks," another commenter said. "People frequent parks to escape tension, not to encounter more. Keep the Navy commando training out of our parks!"
Another commenter expressed concerns over UAVs, arguing, "The Navy’s plan is to use larger, gasoline-powered UAV’s as well as smaller, electric-powered types. This offers significant potential for direct and indirect injury to birds as well as auditory disruption to the experience of park visitors." |