Explosives training begins Thursday near Newton Falls

Residents and business owners in the vicinity of Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center in northeast Ohio may hear increased noise from explosions this week.

The Ohio Army National Guard’s 811th Engineer Company (Sapper) will conduct explosives training Thursday through Sunday, May 1-4, 2025, at the training site.

The Guard said in a statement that the training is designed to maintain the demolition skills of its engineer soldiers and is a crucial component of military readiness, simulating realistic combat scenarios. Sounds from the explosions may travel farther than typical noises from the facility.

Army sappers are specialized combat engineers proficient in a range of military engineering tasks, including minefield operations, bridge construction, demolitions, field fortifications, and infrastructure development. They play a vital role in facilitating the movement of friendly forces and hindering enemy advances.

Camp James A. Garfield, located in Portage and Trumbull counties, encompasses approximately 21,000 acres and serves as a training location for Army and other Department of Defense units in the Midwest. It features various weapons ranges and permanent facilities to support individual and collective training exercises.