Residents in Minden should prepare for increased air traffic as the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) begins a major training operation on Tuesday evening, August 13. The division will be conducting a large-scale exercise that will include the use of Minden Airport and Camp Minden as key sites.
This exercise, spanning various locations in Louisiana and Mississippi, is designed to test the division’s ability to conduct large-scale, long-range air assault operations. The training will focus on communication, logistical resupply, and tactical capabilities. While the primary activities will occur on military installations and local airfields, residents in Minden may notice a significant uptick in helicopter traffic and noise, particularly around the Minden Airport and Camp Minden.
Troops and aircraft will establish Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs) in the area, where military helicopters will be refueled and resupplied before returning to their base at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
The Minden area will experience heightened aircraft activity from August 13 through August 18, with similar operations taking place in other locations such as Monroe and Alexandria during this period.
“We’re alerting the public to prepare nearby communities for an increase in noise due to rotary wing aircraft conducting training flights over the next few days,” said Lt. Col. Martin Meiners, spokesman for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He stressed that the division’s priority is the safety of Soldiers and local residents, expressing appreciation for the support from local leaders and the National Guard.
The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) continues to advance the Army’s efforts in vertical envelopment, preparing to succeed in future combat scenarios.