The US Navy’s Commander US Fleet Forces (USFF) and Commander Navy Installations Command (CNIC) are set to start Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2015 at navy installations in the continental US.
CNIC exercise programme manager William Clark said: "This is the largest force protection exercise conducted across the [US] Department of Defense and the value of training events like this cannot be underestimated.
"This exercise enhances the training and readiness of our security personnel and first responders.
"Additionally, it creates an integrated learning environment for installation and afloat personnel to exercise functional plans and operational capabilities."
Aimed at training navy security forces to react to risks to installations and units, the anti-terrorism force protection (ATFP) exercise, which will be held from the 2 to 13 February, consists of approximately 130 simultaneous field training exercise attacks across the country, intended to assess different regional ATFP operations.
USFF ATFP exercise director captain Greg Sandway said: "Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2015 provides an opportunity to assess the navy’s ability to respond to and recover from a broad spectrum of anti-terrorism threats.
"One of the key components of the exercise is to improve our ability to protect our navy equities, but this exercise also enables us to integrate with the emergency responders from the various local communities and establish coordinated response and recovery procedures that are mutually beneficial."
Image: Emergency medical technicians with an injured visitor during a joint anti-terrorism training exercise in Charlestown Navy Yard, US. Photo: courtesy of the US Navy, photo by seaman Matthew Fairchild.
