Jade Helm 15, a two-month military exercise that sparked Internet conspiracy theories that reached Montezuma County, won't be coming to Colorado this summer after all.
The training exercise was scheduled to include 1,200 Special Operations troops against a made-up "enemy" in the Southwest.
"There's no physical exercise in Colorado regarding Jade Helm," Army Special Operations Command spokesman Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria said last week. Lastoria fielded questions about whether Jade Helm 15 will involve bringing foreign fighters from the Islamic State to Texas, whether U.S. troops will confiscate Texans' guns and whether the Army intends to implement martial law, according to the Austin American-Statesman. Some Texans are worried about how the exercise will affect them. Conspiracy theorists claim it's an attempt to institute martial law, possibly in collusion with Walmart.
The Colorado Springs Gazette reported Friday that the Army Special Forces Command announced the change of plans, saying that Colorado has been dropped from the exercise because the unit that was designated to participate won't be available. The Army unit that was originally expected to participate in the exercise hasn't been identified, but Fort Carson outside Colorado Springs is home to the 10th Special Forces Group.
Defense Secretary Ash Carter flatly denied Thursday the frenzied Internet speculation that a U.S. military exercise in Texas is part of a hostile takeover or other nefarious Pentagon mission.
Asked during a news conference about the Jade Helm 15 exercise and whether the Pentagon was "planning to overtake Texas," Carter simply said "no" as people in the packed room laughed.
The exercise is the largest conducted by U.S. Army Special Operations Command. The military routinely conducts massive air, ground and sea training around the world, and often with multiple other countries.
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has asked his State Guard to monitor the training exercise. Last week more than 200 people packed a meeting in rural Bastrop County asking whether the government was planning to confiscate guns or implement martial law.
"We're very open and up front about our training activities in the United States, and I should say that we're very grateful for the support of communities around the United States," said Carter, adding that officials have tried to answer questions about Jade Helm.
The three-month exercise begins in July and involves about 1,200 troops - special operations forces from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force as well as members of the 82nd Airborne Division. It's spread across seven states - Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Mississippi, Louisiana and Florida - and will be conducted mainly on military installations but also on some remote public and private lands with the approval of landowners.
The diverse locations are meant to replicate the various climates and conditions the special operations forces would face when deployed around the world, and allow them to hone their combat skills.
In Montezuma County, Jade Helm 15 came up at a recent panel discussion of local law enforcement hosted by the Four Corners 9-12 group.
Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin, Cortez Police Chief Roy Lane, District Attorney Will Furse, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife ranger Matt Thorpe all participated in the forum, moderated by Dexter Gill. The program was organized to bolster community relations with local law enforcement, especially in light of recent upheavals between cops and the public across the nation.
Four Corner 9-12ers are not immune to a good conspiracy theory, Garner admitted, and a popular one is "Jade Helm 15," which purports that thousands of undercover military agents are patrolling the country in advance of initiating martial law.
Panelists said they were unfamiliar with the alleged conspiracy, which claims that thousands of undercover military agents are patrolling the area in advance of initiating martial law. Walmarts would be used to process citizens once martial law is declared.
When asked about ominous vehicles with low-profile federal insignia in the area, panel members explained that some unmarked police vehicles are actually BIA cruisers.
Compiled from reports by The Associated Press, Washington Post and The Colorado Springs Gazette.