Navywide Force Protection Exercise Kicks Off in Hampton Roads

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Darian Kenneyn, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2012 kicked off with an "active shooter" force protection drill on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story Feb. 19.

The exercise simulated a Sailor attacking a shipmate with a weapon on a small boat and randomly shooting throughout the harbor. The scenario was designed to train and evaluate the integrated training team, made up of anti-terrorism, emergency management, fire and emergency services, Family Readiness and Facility Support personnel.

During the exercise, an active shooter alert was broadcast throughout the base with the Navy and the Coast Guard responding quickly to locate and neutralize the suspect.

Capt. Charles Stuppard, commander of JEB Little Creek-Fort Story, was there first hand to watch the drill and observe his security team in action.

"We train in case something like this happens. We will be ready to protect the base, protect our personnel and continue our military operations," said Stuppard. "I feel very secure with what I see. Our team can respond to any, if not all, contingencies or any scenarios."

The base integrated training team evaluated the emergency response personnel's ability to respond to an active shooter combined with the small boat attack.

"We went over different response procedures to prepare for today, and our team did well in the exercise,'' said Master-at-Arms 1st Class Brian Rice, force protection team leader. "Safety was a big concern out here, but everything went well."

This drill was the first of many held throughout the week, as the level of security on all bases will rise and stress different areas of the Navy's anti-terrorism program.

Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2012 tests Navy security forces on threat response for installations and units across the nation and is the largest anti- terrorism/force protection exercise in the nation.

This annual event is not in response to any specific threat and is a regularly scheduled exercise.

Training evolutions like Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2012 are key elements of the readiness area of the 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative which consolidates a set of objectives and policies, new and existing, to maximize Sailor and Marine personal readiness, build resiliency and hone the most combat-effective force in the history of the Department of the Navy.