Residents in Southern California have expressed alarm and frustration due to a series of intensive military training exercises conducted in vacant buildings and urban areas, often late at night. The simulated urban warfare, which includes sounds of gunfire and the presence of helicopters, has caused significant disruption and anxiety among local communities in Pasadena, Long Beach, and the San Gabriel Valley.
Multiple incidents this week have featured simulated combat scenarios in unexpected locations, including an empty mall and a vacant hospital in Pasadena. Residents reported hearing gunfire and witnessing helicopters overhead during the night. Officials stated that they received minimal advance notice regarding the timing and specific details of these operations, limiting their ability to adequately inform the public. Rick Cole, a Pasadena City Council member, voiced his concern about the disruption to residents' sleep and the lack of prior notification.
The training exercises, such as the one at the St. Luke Medical Center in Pasadena, involved simulated gunfire, flash grenades, and helicopter activity. While the military had reportedly informed local police months prior about the need for security, city officials were not provided with comprehensive details of the operation until a few hours before it commenced. This lack of detailed information led to a generic public notification, leaving many residents unprepared for the nighttime disturbances.
A U.S. military officer familiar with the exercises explained that the training utilizes real-life facilities to prepare highly specialized soldiers for challenging situations and terrains, noting that these units do not train in standard facilities. The officer added that such training in abandoned commercial properties within Los Angeles County is not uncommon. The helicopter observed during the Pasadena training was identified as belonging to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).
Local officials expressed disappointment with the federal government's lack of transparency. Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo highlighted that the training occurred in a neighborhood recently impacted by a significant fire, questioning the necessity of such disruptive exercises without adequate public consultation. Concerns were also raised by Council Member Cole regarding the possibility that these drills could be interpreted as a form of intimidation, referencing past statements by President Trump about using U.S. cities as military training grounds.
