The US Navy is set to conduct Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2016 (SC/CS16) on navy installations located in continental US.
The Commander of US Fleet Forces (USFF) and the Commander of Navy Installations Command (CNIC) will participate in the exercise, which will run from 1 to 12 February.
This annual anti-terrorism force protection (ATFP) drill is aimed at measuring the navy civilian law enforcement’s response to attacks both on installations and at soft targets off-installation.
It will also train the navy security forces to respond to threats to installations and units.
CNIC exercise programme manager William Clark said: "Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2016 provides the means by which USFF and CNIC assess navy anti-terrorism programme command and control capabilities, and the readiness and effectiveness of fleet and region programme execution throughout the US Northern Command area of responsibility.
"Exercise scenarios are based on our assessment of terrorist / homegrown violent extremist objectives, capabilities and current real-world events."
The drill is not undertaken in response to any specific threats but is a part of a regular routine.
It consists of nearly 300 field-training exercise events on and off navy installations across the country, which is tailored to test different regional ATFP operations.
Measures are taken by the exercise coordinators to ensure minimal hindrances to normal base operations.
Base personnel are required to register for the AtHoc wide-area alert network to stay updated on force protection conditions and other emergency, environmental, or exercise-related impacts on the area.
Image: A soldier in action during an ongoing Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2015 action. Photo: courtesy of US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joseph R Vincent/Released.
