When he bought lunch that afternoon it was an out-of-pocket expense. It is the subject of a new HBO documentary, After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News, as well as countless articles, studies, and books, but none seem to know a way out of this impasse. drills at the Texas National Guard Armory on IH-35 near Brooke Army Medical Center. President Obama is about to use Special Forces to put Texas under martial law. This map shows the militarys plan during the exercise Jade Helm 15, which begins in July. Most recently, the DPS Special Operations Group has provided installation support to U.S. Border Patrol. Some saw the exercise as the first step toward the long-awaited imposition of martial law in the U.S., with the official story about the exercise serving as cover for the U.S. militarys mobilizing to invade Texas and seize citizens guns. To wipe out ISIS and impose martial law. Department of Defense Interface Communications Exercise (DICE), Space Shuttle Debris Recovery, Weatherford (2003)and others dating back to 1943. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest responded with exasperation to news of Governor Abbotts order in a press briefing on April 29, 2015: I have no idea what hes thinking. Governor Abbott Directs Texas State Guard To Monitor Operation Jade As noted Wednesday by Texas Monthly, some theorize the mega?stores are being appropriated by the government for use as bases during martial law. After the storm destroyed community infrastructures, they ran points of distribution, or PODS, with the American Red Cross and other agencies, to distribute water, food, ice, blankets and other items, Pope said. Texas State Guard FAQ - Texas Military Department Don't take my word for it. If Jones and others have found success seeding their conspiracy theories, it may also have a lot to do with the soil in which they were planted. We want to hone our skills," Lt. Col. Mark Listoria tried to explain in vain. The governor's proposition that these soldiers and sailors constitute a potential threat and need watching as they go about their duties certainly stakes out some new political ground for the leader of the Texas GOP to stand on. So be it. Some have drawn parallels on social media to a 2002 incident in which a sheriffs deputy in North Carolina shot two U.S. Special Forces soldiers in civilian clothing after they tried to disarm him. What it did instead was give the conspiracy theory an important sliver of legitimacy in the eyes of some who might otherwise have shrugged it off as nonsense. He can be reached at anewman@thenewamerican.com or throughLiberty Sentinel Media. United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). After a presentation by Lastoria, a resident asked local leaders to reverse their invitation to the military and generated applause, telling them: "I don't believe a single word that he just said.". Government Code Chapter 437. Texas Military deployed for the hurricane relief operations, were paid $121 per day and reimbursed for mileage at the state rate, Pope said. [Why Operation Jade Helm 15 is freaking out the Internet and why it shouldnt be], During the training operation, it is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed, Abbott wrote. PDF Texas Border Security - Texas Department of Public Safety Some websites paraded a PowerPoint presentation marked unclassified as evidence that Army Special Operations Command was training to suppress American rebels in a coming military coup or civil war. The HQ, 1st CA Reg. The movement of heavy vehicles and equipment on half-mile-long rail transports was certainly conspicuous enough to get peoples attention and they shared plenty of photos and videos of this mass build-up online. director Michael Hayden, the exercise might have been a practice run for Russias cyber warfare capabilities. Special Operations Command said in a statement, however, that the size and scope of Jade Helm sets [it] apart from previous, comparable training operations on domestic soil. Section 109. (i.e., Search & Rescue, Boat Operations, FEMA Courses) Veteran Employment Preferences (per Texas Code Title 6, Ch. "It is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed upon," Abbott said. Harlan Thompson Command Sergeant Major at Texas State Guard Dallas, Texas, United States 663 followers 466 connections Join to view profile Texas State Guard Dallas College About. Still, while the Texas governor received broad public support for his response in Texas, more than a few citizens and analysts remain unsettled by the mysterious Jade Helm program. This "Special OPS Texas Website" Owned & Operated by GuardTexas, Inc. New Guard/Patrol Request . Its an exciting time for Texas Special Forces as we add the Special Operations Detachment to our [Texas National Guard] current Special Forces structure, said Lt. Col. Doug OConnell, SOD-A detachment commander. According to USASOC itself, the purpose was to improve the Special Operations Forces capability as part of the National Security Strategy. In normal-person speak, its goal was to train soldiers to effectively operate in combat environments overseas, including simulating wary civilian populations. Most recently, the DPS Special Operations Group has provided installation support to U.S. Border Patrol. 657.001) Military Awards and Honors for Exemplary Service; . It is important that Texans know their safety, constitutional rights, private property rights and civil liberties will not be infringed, he wrote to the TSG commander. Published February 14, 2020 In the summer of 2015, a routine U.S. military exercise called Jade Helm 15 led to mass hysteria over an imminent invasion of Texas. So, to help ease the growing concerns, vociferously expressed by outraged citizens in public meetings across Texas and online across America, Governor Abbott, a Republican and strong supporter of the U.S. military, decided to take action. Meet The Fearsome Texas State Army Taking On Jade Helm 15. This article was published more than8 years ago. That includes a Mexican army officer and Mexican federal police inspector. 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Targets Pro-life Activists as Terrorists, Obama Budget Supersizes U.S. Funding for UN, Global Military, Christians Are Extremists Like al-Qaeda, U.S. Army Taught Troops. The NDAA of 1933 also made it possible for National Guard units to be called upon for federal service in a time of need, making them accountable to the Department of Defense, or as conspiracy nuts specify, President Barack Obama. What's really going on? God bless Texas? "We're serving people in times of disaster.". was made the command and control group for the state guard's hurricane operations. Let's walk over by the fence where nobody can hear us, and I'll tell you the story. The closed Pico Rivera, California, storehas been a particular hotbed for activism. There, Lt. Col. Lastoria listened to about 150 Texas residents and protesters raise concerns and voice defiance against whatever secret plans the Obama administration was preparing to spring on them under the guise of Operation Jade Helm. "One of the Army leadership principals is selfless service and that's what we're really all about," said Pope, who works as a counselor at the Army Education Center. Eric. As a consequence, public anxiety about the exercise started to grow until it reached a fevered pitch in April 2015 during a military informational meeting in Texas Bastrop County. When the U.S. military prepared to run a routine training exercise between July and September 2015 called Jade Helm 15, suspicious Americans in Texas and beyond took notice; at first with concern, then with panic. The only weapons-carrying members in the regiment are the 25 Soldiers on the Quick Reaction Team at Camp Bullis, said Maj. Mitchell Kelley. And theyre moving logistics in place for martial law. Greg Abbott (R) did what any reasonable governor would do: He requested the commander of his forces to monitor the United States Special Operations Command. The Texas State Guard, rooted in Stephen F. Austin's militia, got its official name in 1941, when the Texas legislature authorized the governor to call a militia "at any time that the National Guard is in active Federal service." It banded and disbanded as needed, but was formally reorganized in its current form in 1993. The last state budget had set the cost of the State Guard at $495,000, a pretty hefty amount for what is essentially a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post ready to help in times of need. Texas Republican Gov. The Texas State Guard (TXSG) is one of three branches of the Texas Military Forces (TXMF), reporting to The Texas Adjutant General located at Texas Military Forces HQ, Camp Mabry (Austin),. 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(U.S. Army Special Operations Command map). Your average mall cop might go through more -- which seems about right for a force normally used solely for emergency support, like during the recent wave of floods in Texas. "U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has assured Texas that each location selected for training exercises will pose no risk to residents or property and that they will coordinate with local residents via verbal and written communication," Abbott wrote in his letter to Maj. Gen. Gerald Betty, commander of the Texas State Guard. They might spin or downplay major news stories in a particular way, but they did not fabricate stories out of whole cloth. As Governor, I have the utmost respect for the deep patriotism of the brave military men and women who put their lives on the line to fight for and defend our freedom. "We're traveling by POV (privately owned vehicle); we don't have to meet at the armory, we don't have to form up, we don't have to load up convoys," Pope said. Just a few years ago, Abbott, then serving as Texas attorney general, also drew national support after standing up to the Obama administrations radical plan to station United Nations-linked international election observers at Texas polling places to monitor the election. Camp Bullis in San Antonio and Camp Swift in Bastrop County were originally included, as well. They thought he was part of a role-playing exercise known as Robin Sage, which is a major training event for Green Beret soldiers, officials said at the time. Lastoria told residents that people are wanting the exercise to be something it's not. Box 12428 But the events of this last week have been an eye-opener for Texans of all political stripes. transported by train cars that have already been equipped with shackles, lie and attack everyone who's trying to tell you the truth. Streets With Weapons of War for Local Police, Pelosi Backs Obama on Secret Execution of Americans Without Trial, Texas Judge Warns Obama May Spark Civil War, Call in UN Troops, 20,000 Troops To Be Deployed in United States, U.S. Army Brigade On Call for Domestic Emergencies, FEMA Signs Exchange Deal With Russian Government, Feds Requested Targets With Children and Pregnant Women, Obama Adm. The upside, she said in a clarifying email, was in utilizing Betty and the guard he commands for the governor as Abbott's designated representative for the exercise. Established in 1823 and officially organized in 1835 by Stephen Austin and Moses Morrison, the Texas Rangers served as the first special operations unit of the Texas Military Department until 1935 when they were re-designated to the Texas Department of Public Safety as a State Bureau of Investigation. State Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Joanne MacGregor said in a statement that the guard's role would be "to expedite the flow of information and facilitate communication between the Office of the Governor in order to alleviate any possible public concerns.". Many of HQ, 1st CA Regiment's 165 members are veterans or military retirees, though military service is not a prerequisite to join, Pope said. While the nature of the exercise and its scope were large, it was conducted in areas that have traditionally been friendly to a large U.S. military presence. The study also found that Americans prone to believe in baseless or fairly thin explanations often think that people who try to debunk conspiracy theories may, themselves, be part of the conspiracy.. "The members of the SOD-A bring with them an unprecedented wealth of regional and special operations backgrounds, said Capt. P.O. You will find the names of Texans etched into marble at war memorials from Goliad to Gettysburg, from Verdun to the Ardennes and Washington, D.C. PDF Texas Department of Public Safety After learning about Operation Jade Helm, read about the conspiracy theory that the Apollo 17 moon landing was fake. In this environment, commentators like Alex Jones or foreign intelligence services intent on social disruption end up filling in a lot of the gaps that we would normally fill in ourselves using a shared forum for conversation. Citizens across Texas and the rest of the United States, though, were unconvinced by the official explanation. There was even talk of moving people into FEMA concentration camps in abandoned WalMarts, if necessary. Following discussions aimed at ensuring Texans are fully informed on Operation Jade Helm 15, Governor Greg Abbott today met with Major General Gerald Jake Betty, Commander of the Texas State Guard, and directed him to monitor the Operation. With Jade Helm 15 approaching, Abbott is still finalizing the details of the State Guards involvement, and its cost to Texans. Along with the other two branches, the TXSG . Members of the Texas State Guard do not carry weapons, do not attend basic training, cannot be assigned outside of Texas, cannot be involuntarily placed on military orders, and can only be paid if they take volunteer orders. State Defense Forces like the Texas State Guard may be loosely related to the National Guard Bureau, but do not have to follow the same rigid guidelines as those who sign up for National Guard. PDF Texas Border Security - Texas Department of Public Safety Also setting it apart: The widespread conspiracy theories that the U.S. is preparing to hatch martial law. Members of the State Guard are not paid unless they are activated by the governor for an emergency operation, but they do get some sweet side perks. Military | Texas Commission on Law Enforcement The Jade Helm story inspired cultural reactions on both sides of the political divide. Directing the State Guard to monitor the Operation will allow Texas to be informed of the details of The massive and controversial U.S. military operations, set to take place across the American Southwest this summer, have stirred nationwide fears about the Obama administrations agenda especially after a leaked document on Jade Helm showed American states in the region shaded in different colors based on their hypothetical loyalty to Washington. Army Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria, a spokesman for Army Special Operations Command, appeared on Monday at an informational meeting in Bastrop, Tex., and fielded a variety of pointed questions, according to the Statesman newspaper. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Ive worn this uniform across five different administrations for 27 years.. The TXSG is one of the three branches of the Texas Military Forces, which are under the command of the governor. The Texas Military Forces have a budget of $101.1 million as of 2017. "FEMA death domes" purportedly being built as detention hubs for detained American insurgents had already been absorbed into tacked onto the martial law/coup conspiracy theory. He even speculates that the success of the Jade Helm conspiracy theory may have even inspired these operatives to aim for a much bigger prize: interfering with the upcoming 2016 election. This is going to be hellish. The map laid out a realistic roleplay scenario where U.S. forces would be in the middle of a conflict zone between two sides, one labeled friendly and the other hostile.. The presentation says Texas was chosen as a hub because of a low population density, and military-friendly history. But while Fox News and other conservative media outlets online may have conditioned their audience to mainline outrage and anxiety like they were drugs, there was still some level of journalistic standard to their content. Governor asks Texas State Guard to monitor SOCOM exercise - Army Times The attention on the Texas State Guard highlights an often overlooked fact: 23 states and territories operate state defense forces (SDF). While Johnstons group claimed it never bought into Alex Jones-level hysteria over Jade Helm, these were still native Texans that would usually have fallen all over themselves to show respect and deference toward the military. One obvious explanation is the Commander in Chief: President Obama. Fifty-nine members of HQ, 1st CA Reg. While Jones program was growing organically, it also benefitted significantly from the efforts of other right-wing media personalities who boosted the shows profile by sharing Jones content in a powerful new way that no one had truly prepared for. , and protests have marked some of the other closed locations. Despite a geographical orientation to Africa, SOD-A has the ability to deploy anywhere in the world. Gov. All we want to do is make sure our guys are trained for combat overseas. Whether the monitoring of actual soldiers conducting training is considered a state emergency on par with the recent level of flooding has yet to be determined. The Jade Helm logo is based directly on the US Special Forces logo arrows crossed under a knife blade, and a wooden shoe (or sabot in Dutch, from saboteur) in the center. That started Monday when a public briefing by the Army in Bastrop County, which is just east of Austin, got raucous. The 84th session of the state Legislature has given ample proof of that. In 2009, the family of the soldier killed reached a financial settlement with the Moore County Sheriffs Department in North Carolina and the former deputy involved, Randall Butler, according to news reports at the time. Concerned citizens of Bastrop County voice their fears at a public meeting with Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria. The other branches are the Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard. Did I mention the ISIS terrorists? Jones made wild, unsubstantiated claims about the exercise such as the one where the Helm in Jade Helm was an acronym for Homeland Eradication of Local Militants and speculated that Jade Helm was going to disarmed patriotic citizens in anticipation of President Obamas canceling elections and ruling as a dictator. The next day Abbott decided he had to take action. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. On February 10, 1941, the Forty-seventh Legislature authorized the Texas Defense Guard. YouTube/ABC NewsConcerned citizens of Bastrop County voice their fears at a public meeting with Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Mark Lastoria. The labeling of Texas as hostile in the presentation ignited concerns among some conspiracy websites and some residents that the state's libertarian, pro-gun and patriotic leanings make it a target for the federal government and that the labeling was not just an arbitrary simulation. Theyre gathering intelligence. Any use of private land, he said, has already been coordinated. Read Governor Abbotts full directive to General Betty here. Terry Benjamin - Battle Captain - Texas Emergency Operations Center Summarize this article for a 10 years old. Alex Jones and others like him had no such compunction. AUSTIN, Texas - Continuing its mission to remain adaptable and deployable for contingency operations around the world, the Texas Army National Guard has opened its ranks to what will be one of its most diverse and unique units, Special Operations Detachment-Africa. Operation Jade Helm: The Truth Behind The Hysteria - All That's Interesting Worse still, it looks like the Jade Helm hysteria might not have been entirely organic either. The Texas State Guard (TXSG) mission as a branch of the Texas Military Forces is to provide mission-ready military forces to assist State and local authorities in times of state emergencies, with homeland security and community service through Defense Support to Civil Authorities (DSCA). Ive hardly ever heard of something joint like this unless theyre planning an invasion., Where the first green shoots of the Jade Helm conspiracy theory began isnt known, but Alex Jones first got his hands on it on in March 2015, publishing an article on his website titled Jade Helm: Troops to Operate Undetected Amongst Civilian Population.'. The thing that I can say without having a lot of detailed knowledge about the particular exercise is that in no way will the constitutional rights or civil liberties of any American citizen be infringed upon while this exercise is being conducted.. Provencio, a retired Army master sergeant, encourages anyone who wants to do volunteer work to consider the Texas State Guard. Social media algorithms populated the news feeds of conservative Texans with the conspiracy theory in large part because the most durable conspiracy theories have some tangential elements of truth to them. Among those participating in the drill will be the elite of the U.S. military: Army Special Forces Command, (Green Berets); Navy SEALs; Air Force Special Operations Command; Marine Special Operations Command; Marine Expeditionary Units; and the 82nd Airborne Division. The TXSG drills and deployments are considered military duty by law. When they do get called up, State Guard members are paid a daily stipend of $121, regardless of rank. As for the Texas Guard monitoring, Army officers have been going to Texas towns, many of them rural, to explain the exercises. hide caption. That conservative Texans and others on the right thought that President Obama would even be inclined to do something like this much less be able to successfully order an institutionally conservative U.S. military to carry it out shows the extent to which commentators like Alex Jones and others had pervasively misinformed large parts of the public. Since Gen. Sam Houston executed his famous retreat to glory to defeat the superior forces of Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Texas has been ground zero for military training. Press Release. Texas State Guard - Texas Manufacturing The New American magazine, published twice a month in print and daily online, is the essential news source for freedom-loving Americans. Abbotts order, and various leftist journalists attacked the governor for responding to the concerns of his constituents. The Texas State Guard is part of the state military force of Texas, and one of three branches of the Texas Military Forces. I have no idea what hes thinking, Obama spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters. Texas Military Forces - Wikipedia Follow him on Twitter@ALEXNEWMAN_JOU. It's a classic false flag operation. Another former Republican politician was a bit more pointed. C. Aviation Assets It is considered an organized, legal state militia. That's why the Special Forces guys are here, get it? Like the United States Armed Forces, Texas Military medals and ribbons are distinctly categorized by general service and achievement awards, and distinguished service and achievement decorations, which is reflected in the order of precedence. The military says it's just a training exercise, and many disregarded the connections to impending martial law made by some websites as a conspiracy theory. This Operation will take place over an eight-week period beginning in July of 2015 in locations across the State of Texas and neighboring states New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Colorado. Lt. Col. Ray Provencio, executive officer, and Sgt. To augment the other two branches of the Texas Military . The Texas State Guard (TXSG) is part of the state military force of Texas, and one of three branches of the Texas Military Forces. "You see the massive devastation and the suffering of the people this is where someone has to come forward," Pope said. In other words, Jon Stewart labeling worried citizens as Lone Star Lunatics may push them even further into the conspiracy as they quickly believe that he, too, is involved. In statements outlining the plan, officials noted that one element of the exercise would involve Special Forces personnel trying to blend in with the local environment and not stand out and blow their cover. The U.S. troops are also going to set up cells of people and test how well theyre able to move around without getting too noticed in the community, Chief Deputy Roy Boyd with the Victoria County Sheriffs Office was quoted as saying in press reports about the drill. Texas Guard to Monitor Federal "Jade Helm" Military Exercise The regiment's executive officer, Lt. Col. Ray Provencio, said that many of the unit's younger members join the TXSG as a stepping stone to see if the active-duty military is for them. Various far-left activists posing as journalists in Texas and beyond, meanwhile, attacked the popular governor for responding to the concerns of the people who elected him. PDF Office of the Texas Governor | Greg Abbott David Dewhurst tried to put it in perspective for outsiders when he explained, "Unfortunately, some Texans have projected their legitimate concerns about the competence and trustworthiness of President Barack Obama on these noble warriors. Still, having the state Guard monitor the controversial operation will allow Texas to be informed of the details of military personnel movements and training schedules. The monitoring will also allow the governors office to quickly and effectively communicate with local communities, law enforcement, public safety officials, and citizens. Texas State Guard - Wikiwand
