Security Forces Hone Skills During Annual Exercise
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U.S. Navy photo by Melinda Larson
Security Forces Hone Skills During Annual Exercise
By Melinda Larson
Naval Support Activity (NSA) Monterey’s Security Forces thwart a mock intruder at the Del Monte Gate, as the Installation Training Team (ITT) assessed their response, Jan. 31. The drill was a part of Exercise Citadel Shield, the first of a two-part Navy force protection exercise series conducted this week.
“This exercise reinforced our ability to respond to threats to the base and the tenant commands we support,” said Navy Capt. Rich Wiley, Commanding Officer, NSA Monterey. “The more we drill as a team in conducting these exercises with our federal police officers, the more our confidence level rises in our ability to counter any threat that could confront our main base, the annex complex and all our properties.”
Security Forces responded to diverse scenarios throughout the week, including a suspicious package, an unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicle, protestors, and an intrusion at the Del Monte gate by a person with an improvised explosive device in the trunk of his car. During the exercises, ITT members monitored the response of Security Forces, and evaluated the installation’s Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection policies and procedures.
“It’s important for our federal police officers to go through the paces of responding to a variety of scenarios. This type of training not only hones our tactics and techniques, but also provides an opportunity for officers to work together as a team,” said Lt. Cmdr. Diego Flores, Operations Officer at NSA Monterey.
Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2018 is a two-part anti-terrorism force protection exercise conducted by Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) in conjunction with Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) on all Navy installations in the continental United States. Citadel Shield is a Field Training Exercise led by CNIC from Jan. 29 - Feb. 4. Solid Curtain is a Command Post Exercise portion co-led by USFFC and CNIC from Feb. 5-9.
During the Solid Curtain portion, Feb. 5-9, the installation’s Emergency Management Office will test the mass notification system, “Giant Voice.”
“It always boils down to communication – who needs to know, what do they need to know and how are they going to know it? The Giant Voice system is a valuable tool when it is necessary to communicate with installation personnel, students and family members during an emergency,” Wiley added.
Officials add that while disruptions to normal base and station operations will be minimal this week, there may be times when the exercise could cause affect traffic or generate delays when accessing campus. Area residents may also see increased security activity associated with the exercise.
Naval Support Activity (NSA) Monterey’s Security Forces thwart a mock intruder at the Del Monte Gate, as the Installation Training Team (ITT) assessed their response, Jan. 31. The drill was a part of Exercise Citadel Shield, the first of a two-part Navy force protection exercise series conducted this week.
“This exercise reinforced our ability to respond to threats to the base and the tenant commands we support,” said Navy Capt. Rich Wiley, Commanding Officer, NSA Monterey. “The more we drill as a team in conducting these exercises with our federal police officers, the more our confidence level rises in our ability to counter any threat that could confront our main base, the annex complex and all our properties.”
Security Forces responded to diverse scenarios throughout the week, including a suspicious package, an unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicle, protestors, and an intrusion at the Del Monte gate by a person with an improvised explosive device in the trunk of his car. During the exercises, ITT members monitored the response of Security Forces, and evaluated the installation’s Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection policies and procedures.
“It’s important for our federal police officers to go through the paces of responding to a variety of scenarios. This type of training not only hones our tactics and techniques, but also provides an opportunity for officers to work together as a team,” said Lt. Cmdr. Diego Flores, Operations Officer at NSA Monterey.
Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2018 is a two-part anti-terrorism force protection exercise conducted by Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) in conjunction with Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) on all Navy installations in the continental United States. Citadel Shield is a Field Training Exercise led by CNIC from Jan. 29 - Feb. 4. Solid Curtain is a Command Post Exercise portion co-led by USFFC and CNIC from Feb. 5-9.
During the Solid Curtain portion, Feb. 5-9, the installation’s Emergency Management Office will test the mass notification system, “Giant Voice.”
“It always boils down to communication – who needs to know, what do they need to know and how are they going to know it? The Giant Voice system is a valuable tool when it is necessary to communicate with installation personnel, students and family members during an emergency,” Wiley added.
Officials add that while disruptions to normal base and station operations will be minimal this week, there may be times when the exercise could cause affect traffic or generate delays when accessing campus. Area residents may also see increased security activity associated with the exercise.