Military Base Drills May Be Heard In Manalapan This Month

MANALAPAN, NJ - Are those loud noises the sound of hunting season? Did Santa crash-land in New Jersey early this year? Not quite: Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst recently issued a statement warning nearby municipalities when the loud sound of drills will be heard in the area this month.

The Joint Base publishes a monthly "noise level calendar," and that calendar indicates "abundant noise" from the base on July 15 and 16.

According to the base, “abundant noise” includes heavy crew weapons training and cratering munitions, which may include mortar live fire, howitzer fire and cratering charges.

July 9 through 22 will see consecutive “moderate noise” levels with aerial gunnery, which may include rocket fire and rotary cannons.

The base does not publish specifics of what training is happening or what organization is training, but in the past the loudest noise has come when units are training with mortars.

Cloud cover can affect how loud and how far the noise carries, base officials have said.

Check out the full July noise calendar below:

With additional reporting by Karen Wall.