Boom! Boom! Boom!

Tier 1 Group rattles Crittenden County community

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

“Did anyone else just hear a big explosion?”

That’s a question that shows up from time to time in the Text the Times messages and on local social media pages.

There are plenty of reasons to hear the occasional loud “boom” around here. There are train yards and truck stops and the close proximity to not one but two interstate highways where blown tires and unfortunate crashes occur.

And yes, there are, sadly, guns being fired in our communities.

But this past weekend, several concerned citizens took to Facebook to inquire about a series of window-rattling noises. Those turned out to be the workings of training exercises being done out at Tier 1 Group in Crawfordsville.

Also known as T1G, Tier 1 is a private military company founded by retired Marine Steve Reichert almost 20 years ago. T1G provides military training, as well as civilian tactical medicine, military medicine and law enforcement training.

While the occasional explosion from charges used during exercises has become almost unnoticed by longtime residents, this past Sunday was not one of those days.

“Tier 1 is in full force this evening,” Amanda Walraven posted in a local Facebook group page.

“We don’t even get alarmed anymore when they are training,” said Brian Pipkin. “It’s normal to watch the cargo planes fly over as they go from Little Rock to Fort Chafee. One day, you might be happy they’re doing all that training in you back yard when there’s a war.”

Shelly Loudermik offered a little suggestion.

“I understand and appreciate the need to train,” she said, “but it would be nice if there was any way they could give us all a heads-up when they will be blowing things up on this day around this time.”

File photos