One note regarding the deployment ceremony Wednesday for the Asheville-based N.C. National Guard unit that’s headed to Iraq: during the event, a couple of military officials gave special thanks to the Biltmore Estate for its role in helping the soldiers prepare.
The Biltmore Estate served as a training ground for the soldiers of the 105th Military Police Battalion, according to the military officials who spoke at this public event. Soldiers practiced “mounted patrols,” which I think means they drove their vehicles around the rolling estate property. They practiced “unmounted patrols,” which I’m guessing means they trained moving as teams on foot through wooded areas. They practiced small arms fire, and they practiced using “flash-bang” stun grenades.
This is the first time I’ve ever heard the Biltmore Estate publicly acknowledged for its role in helping train soldiers for war. Is this a precedent-setting first, or am I missing something? I don’t know the legalities of it all, but I have to assume it was all done above board and with proper state and federal approval.
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I remember going to the greenhouse sales two summers ago on the west side of Biltmore Estate, and seeing training exercises taking place. One of the clerks said it was common.
Very misleading title for this article by the way. Must be slow in the blogging world.
War games have always gone on in the mountains of western North Carolina, but have been in decline since so many transplants have moved here who frown on the practice.
I can remember Special Forces using our barn (and others in the community) as they practiced guerrilla warfare techniques in the late 70’s against units that acted as MPs in town and on patrol.
C-130’s used to drop paratroopers and fighters (F-4 Phantoms and F-5 Tigersharks) used to come screaming through the passes and engaged in thrilling dogfights that I miss.
Then people from outside the area started moving in and complaining about it.
There was a recent exercise in Macon County that had the local 110th MP unit practicing supply runs with Emergency Management to see if they could perform as planned in the event of a disaster. [Video of Warren Cabe discussing drill starting after 29 minute mark http://thundercast.blip.tv/file/3209777/%5D
There are some flight training still taking place, but it is rare (except for the Snowbird route training). the action is now best monitored on the 200 Mhz military bands.
Biltmore Estate is the largest privately owned estate in America. Its privately owned so the owners can let who ever do what ever they want within a legal means. The park service just help Run it.