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Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Completes Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2012

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS120326-11
3/26/2012

By Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Eli Medellin, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Public Affairs

SEAL BEACH, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach personnel completed their role in Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield (SC-CS) March 24, and will implement lessons learned to improve the base's ability to counter future terrorist threats.

SC-CS is the largest annual Navy-wide security exercise, held to ensure that naval installations are prepared to respond to any event at all times.

"The goal was to assess our ability to counter threats to the installation," said Allen Roy, training and readiness coordinator and lead evaluator for the base. "We exercise anti-terrorism scenarios and evaluate the responses of the watchstanders."

Patrol boats ran through scenarios in which they had to protect the harbor and any ships that might be in port, and gate sentries were put into body armor and battle helmets.

The high point during the exercise was an active shooter drill. Security forces took turns working through a specially equipped training facility, locating and engaging gunmen while helping role playing "victims" escape the building. Then, a smoke machine was used to simulate a fire so that the base fire department as well as security needed to respond.

The base Deputy Security Officer, Master-at Arms Senior Chief Kelly Hallmark, played a supervisory role during the exercise. "We are keeping our personnel well versed on what to do to keep assets and personnel safe and minimize casualties," said Hallmark. "We're taking lessons learned and recalling procedures that worked for after action reports."

Communication with other bases in the region was an essential element during the exercise, as events at one installation affected the security posture at others.

Gunner's Mate 1st Class Russell Rhine was one of the watchstanders who monitored regional messages and chat rooms pertaining to emergencies or natural disasters.

"This was my first experience at this base," said Rhine, "but whether on shore or on base, we are always training to be prepared for any real world events."

Training evolutions like SC/CS 2012 are important 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.