To the alarm of archconservatives who fear takeover, military exercise begins in Texas

A warning sign is posted at a gate entrance at Texas Army National Guard Camp Swift, Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in Bastrop, Texas. Jade Helm 15, a summer military training exercise that has aroused alarm among archconservatives Texans, begins Wednesday outside the Central Texas town of Bastrop. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (The Associated Press)

Military vehicles are seen at Texas Army National Guard Camp Swift, Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in Bastrop, Texas. Jade Helm 15, a summer military training exercise, that has aroused alarm among archconservative Texans, begins Wednesday outside the Central Texas town of Bastrop. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (The Associated Press)

Eric Johnston, the Texas organizer for the civilian volunteer group monitoring Jade Helm 15 military training exercises, talks on the phone, Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in Bastrop, Texas. The summer military training exercise that has aroused alarm among archconservative Texans began Wednesday outside the Central Texas town. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) (The Associated Press)

A summer military training exercise that has aroused alarm among archconservatives who believe it could be a precursor to martial law and firearms confiscations is set to begin in Central Texas.

Gov. Greg Abbott acknowledged that panic when he directed the Texas State Guard to monitor Jade Helm 15 starting Wednesday near the town of Bastrop, 30 miles southeast of Austin.

Texas is one of two "hostile" territories for the purpose of the exercise.

The State Guard will brief Abbott's office every day on the exercises. Civilian volunteers say they plan to shadow military movements statewide.

Jade Helm 15 will cover seven Southwestern states and wraps up in September.