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Pearl Harbor Security Applies Technology to Force Protection

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS041213-08
Release Date: 12/13/2004 4:15:00 PM

By Journalist 3rd Class Ryan McGinley, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Naval Station Pearl Harbor security has acquired and implemented the military's first fixed commercial vehicle inspection station x-ray apparatus, designed to detect contraband and anomalies in vehicles entering the base.

Security implemented the state-of-the-art device at Halawa Gate for the achievement of force protection and anti-terrorism in early September.

"This is cutting edge technology and will enable us to x-ray any vehicles that are coming onto Naval Station Pearl Harbor with a tremendous degree of clarity, which is not available with other conventional types of inspections," said Lt. Cmdr. Allen Balabis, security and anti-terrorism officer for Naval Station Pearl Harbor. "This goes a long way in maintaining force protection and anti-terrorism measures."

The vehicles coming onto base are scanned similar to a CAT scan in a hospital where a rail or "gantry" is run over the vehicles parked on a pad. Once the vehicle is scanned, the images are analyzed.

"We are the first installation in the U.S. military to get this type of cutting-edge technology apparatus," said Balabis. "What we continue to do is seek new technology to make our job better, more efficient and much more accurate."

A team of 30 Sailors went through a four-week training course to be certified to operate the device. The course, which included classroom and hands-on training with the manufacturer, certified the Sailors in a variety of positions, including console operators, scan coordinators, safety personnel and image analysts. All 30 Sailors are cross-trained to fill any position at any time.

Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Michael Littlefield, who was trained on the device, said the team trained hard, putting in many overtime hours to learn the intricacies of the device to better protect Sailors and family members.

"It's a great threat deterrent and makes people feel safer," said Littlefield. "The machine can pick up any type of contraband."

Both Balabis and Littlefield agreed the changing world requires security at Pearl Harbor to re-evaluate its approach to anti-terrorism and force protection.

"We're not fighting wars like we used to," said Littlefield. "We're not only worried about the person with the biggest army, we're also worried about the people with the smallest army, the ones that can sneak in undetected."

"The apparatus is absolutely invaluable to the greater mission," said Balabis. "The world isn't the same as it was prior to Sept. 11. We are now keenly aware of vulnerabilities, so by keeping up with technology, especially in the realm of detection, we're able to at least try to keep the threat at a distance."