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Navy SEALs to stop using Washington state parks after residents voice fears of seeing ‘armed men’

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The U.S. Navy is pausing SEAL coaching at Washington state parks whereas a authorized battle over their use winds its approach by the courts.

“It’s troublesome to search out peace within the woods when armed frogmen could be lurking behind each tree,” legal professionals for the Whidbey Environmental Motion Community, the group behind the lawsuit in opposition to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Fee, argued in a authorized transient filed final month.

A bunch of Navy Seal trainees.
(Charles Ommanney/Getty Pictures)

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The Navy has used Washington state coastal parks for over 30 years for SEAL chilly water coaching and different particular operations workout routines, with leaders saying the realm affords the right surroundings to simulate what the elite forces could encounter on troublesome operations abroad.

“This space gives a singular surroundings of chilly water, excessive tidal adjustments, multi-variant currents, low visibility, advanced underwater terrain, local weather and rigorous land terrain, which gives a sophisticated coaching surroundings,” Navy spokesman Joe Overton instructed Espresso or Die Journal. 

However the Navy’s use of Washington shoreline has just lately come beneath fireplace from native residents who’re involved about each the physiological and environmental influence the SEAL coaching can have on others utilizing the parks.

“I don’t care to catch a glimpse of apparently armed males skulking round and I DEFINITELY don’t wish to threat having my younger grandchildren see such a sight,” a resident wrote to state regulators throughout a public remark interval whereas the state was trying to resume its settlement with the Navy.

Different residents expressed related issues, arguing that the parks are purported to function a spot to chill out for residents.

“In today of nice division in our civil society, we don’t want stealthy males in camo uniforms toting toy weapons round our State and County Parks,” one other commenter mentioned. “Individuals frequent parks to flee stress, to not encounter extra. Maintain the Navy commando coaching out of our parks!”

SEAL candidates participating in

SEAL candidates taking part in “surf immersion” throughout Primary Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) coaching  (MC1 Anthony Walker/U.S. Navy through AP)

One other commenter expressed issues over UAVs, arguing, “The Navy’s plan is to make use of bigger, gasoline-powered UAV’s in addition to smaller, electric-powered varieties. This affords vital potential for direct and oblique harm to birds in addition to auditory disruption to the expertise of park guests.”

The complaints led to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Fee in a 4-3 vote to conform to a scaled-back coaching that will restrict the place and what time SEALs may practice, prompting the lawsuit to dam the usage of state parks solely.

The lawsuit contends that the coaching could dissuade residents from utilizing the parks over fears of “encountering the proposed warfare video games or being spied upon by Navy personnel.”

The Navy contends that SEAL coaching within the parks has not interfered with guests, noting that there isn’t a use of live-fire ammunition or explosive gadgets.

U.S. Navy SEAL candidates use teamwork to perform physical training exercises with a 600 pound log.

U.S. Navy SEAL candidates use teamwork to carry out bodily coaching workout routines with a 600 pound log.
(Division of Protection)

However that reassurance has not satisfied native residents who say the Navy ought to use the 46 miles of Washington shoreline already beneath its jurisdiction, an space the navy mentioned doesn’t supply as a lot realism to SEALs.

“Though there are a number of Navy properties within the space, they don’t present the complete vary of environments wanted for this coaching to be as sensible as doable,” Overton mentioned.