Don’t be quiet about JBLM rocket tests

Military noise that civilians enjoy hearing is the exception, not the rule. The sound of a brass band marching down the Champs-Elysées in a World War II victory parade stirs the heart. The roar of Air Force Thunderbirds finally returning to local skies this summer (thanks, Joint Base Lewis-McChord) triggers the adrenaline.

Next week, JBLM troops for the first time will launch up to 27 of the non-explosive, truck-mounted HIMARS rockets from a southeast-facing hill, aiming away from Interstate 5. They will practice what they’re expected to do with lethal precision in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan. For example, about 150 JBLM artillery soldiers were sent to Iraq in January to help reclaim territory captured by the Islamic State.

Giving up a few minutes of serenity at home is a small sacrifice to help these professionals prepare for their hard work abroad.

The rocket tests, up to nine per day on March 15-17, probably won’t be loud enough to bother folks who live north of DuPont. But residents to the south will be exposed to noise up to 130 decibels – a rock concert or a jet flyover registers 110 decibels, by comparison – for 5 to 10 seconds at a time. The launches might also cause hair-raising sonic booms, depending on climate and other factors.

The Army would certainly like the flexibility of conducting more rocket training at JBLM as a cost-saving alternative to the Yakima Training Center. It also would help supplement the virtual simulators that artillerymen use to practice picking targets and calculating trajectories.

The military has moved carefully with environmental studies and public outreach since 2009, listening to concerns from the Nisqually Tribe and other stakeholders. Officials say they won’t proceed if next week’s tests generate unexpectedly high decibels or a negative community response. (They need to stay on top of their noise hotline; as of Monday morning, the recorded message did not mention the HIMARS tests and was still announcing a February howitzer training.)

A specialized military unit is being brought in to collect objective noise data. It will set up acoustic equipment at schools, private buildings and other spots around the base. Just as important, if not more so, will be subjective public feedback.

People should contact the Army if they’re shaken up during a nap, math test, golf game or other daily routine. They should make a report if their windows rattle severely or their china is toppled.

Family members and caregivers should report ill effects on individuals suffering from PTSD. Hopefully, the Army is taking steps through Madigan Army Medical Center to contact its own vulnerable patients.

And because animals can’t speak for themselves, owners should speak up for their agitated livestock or housepets.

From 1994 to 2014, JBLM says it took an average of 134 noise complaints per year. That’s a respectable number for one of the largest bases on the West Coast, where a busy mix of combat infantry brigades, artillery units, helicopter squadrons and cargo jets intersects with a growing suburban population.

But for three days next week, the base will be louder than usual. Its neighbors should feel free to make some noise, too.

This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 8:30 AM with the headline "Don’t be quiet about JBLM rocket tests."