# Operation Jade Helm
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [March 28, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245 "2015-03-28T23:39:22Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/1 "2015-03-28T23:39:22Z")
Have you heard of this?
I don’t understand it,somehow these Armed Forces guys and gals are supposed to wander the streets “blending in” with the population.
If you can explain this to me,using small words,I’d appreciate it.
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2015, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/2 "2015-03-28T23:50:23Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#):
>
> Have you heard of this?
> I don’t understand it,somehow these Armed Forces guys and gals are supposed to wander the streets “blending in” with the population.
> If you can explain this to me,using small words,I’d appreciate it.
What are you talking about?
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [March 28, 2015, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/3 "2015-03-28T23:53:59Z")
[Previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18220964).
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### Author:  [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2015, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/4 "2015-03-29T00:10:35Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> [Previous thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=18220964).
I know. I was asking the OP what _she_ was talking about(which version she wanted explained to her).
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2015, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/5 "2015-03-29T00:20:13Z")
But the OP may not have been aware of the previous thread.
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### Author:  [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2015, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/6 "2015-03-29T03:13:49Z")
I just heard about this and didn’t know about another thread… I guess I need the rules of the game explained… Are we supposed to spot these guys and turn them in? Ignore them? Point out to them where they’re going wrong in the blend in thingie??
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2015, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/7 "2015-03-29T06:17:10Z")
Who are “these guys?” Who are you talking about “turning in?”
I just pointed out the previous thread because you might not have been aware of it and might find some answers there.
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### Author:  [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/8 "2015-03-29T14:15:57Z")
> [@Lorene89095](#):
>
> I just heard about this and didn’t know about another thread… I guess I need the rules of the game explained… Are we supposed to spot these guys and turn them in? Ignore them? Point out to them where they’re going wrong in the blend in thingie??
OK without reading the entire other thread I’ll take a SWAG – I think I know what you are asking. In the Old Days we had a variety of exercises where basically we were Special Forces and the surrounding countryside was (for lack of a better example) Vietnam. If memory serves me right they were usually called shit like Painted Lady or Exotic Dancer. Often the local residents were not clued in to our being in the area and we would have a task of going X miles and completing Y mission - usually in full uniform and gear. Part of the “test” was not being seen by the wrong people - farmers or locals who would call in the cops or local radio stations. Extra points were sometimes given for finding “right” people – people who would help us complete the mission. Various humorous incidents often ensued.
I would guess this is something like them. So if you feel like it, blow their cover. If you want to, help them along. Either way it could be “fair play” in the game.
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### Author:  [@SJL4041](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SJL4041)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2015, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/9 "2015-03-29T14:35:27Z")
Here are some articles about Jade Helm that will help explain:
> **[Jade Helm: The Pretend Invasion of Texas That's Driving the Web Crazy](https://www.gawker.com/jade-helm-the-pretend-invasion-of-texas-thats-driving-1693863561)**
>
> From July 15th to September 15th, over a thousand armed American soldiers will maneuver through the Southwest United States as part of a vast operation with a single motto: "Master the Human Domain." Internet conspiracy theorists wait their whole...
Less reliable, but still mostly sane:
> **[Fears of martial law as special ops set to swarm Texas and Southwest](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3013900/Fears-martial-law-special-ops-set-swarm-Southwest-operate-undetected-civilians-ve-deemed-HOSTILE-massive-military-exercise.html)**
>
> Operation Jade Helm will see 1,200 service members including Green Berets and SEALs and special forces from the Air Force and Marines in July.
In the rare event that the DoD wants you, average citizen, to try to spot Special Forces or whatever, they’ll tell you. More likely, they’ll scale this exercise way back because of all the crazies on the web who are prepping for the FEMA death domes.
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### Author:  [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)
#### Post date: [March 29, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/10 "2015-03-29T22:57:47Z")
I thought about tag and release,or maybe paint ball marking (I see you!)
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### Author:  [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2015, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/11 "2015-03-30T00:02:08Z")
Texas? What the Hell challenge is it to skulk around in Texas? I had to skulk around freaking PA and NC without being seen. Now THAT was freaking training. Damn wusses in today’s Army.
(Actually I got a lot of respect for them. But you have to admit that as challenges go ---------- )
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### Author:  [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/12 "2015-03-30T00:15:02Z")
I would really like to hope you’re joking, but my faith in humanity is pretty low atm.
Please do not shoot actual military or associated police operatives with paintballs.
Just, please, don’t.
Although if you do, can you be on film and arrange for the footage to get posted to the thread?
😃
Seriously tho, I think the local police depts and national guard people are the ones who are ‘supposed’ to be trying to blow the cover of the forces attempting to blend in.
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### Author:  [@Lorene89095](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorene89095)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2015, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/operation-jade-helm/716245/13 "2015-03-30T03:22:02Z")
Sadly I don’t have a paintball gun,so I’ll roll craftily behind them in the powerchair and either hit them with a paintbrush or florescent orange spray paint … I can always use the old and senile defense…