NORFOLK, Va. — Navy installations across the country are expected to participate in an annual force protection exercise from February 3 to 14. That includes Hampton Roads installations too.
The exercise, Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2020, is designed to enhance the readiness of Navy security forces and ensure seamless interoperability among the commands, other services and agency partners.
“Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain is an important training opportunity designed to ensure our personnel and security forces are at peak readiness to deter and respond to potential security threats,” said Rear Adm. Charles Rock, the commander of the Navy’s Mid-Atlantic Region. “We test ourselves against an array of realistic scenarios and we conduct the exercise in coordination with our community partners.”
Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2020 is not in response to any specific threat but is a regularly scheduled exercise.
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Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions within local communities and to normal base operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access. Area residents may also see or hear security activities associated with the exercise. As always, “see something, say something” applies, even during an exercise. Everyone should report suspicious activity if they witness something. Advanced coordination has taken place with local law enforcement and first responders.
“Our partnerships with police, fire and emergency services in the communities that host our bases is vital to our success. We know that there will be increased activity on and around our installations across the region,” Rock said. “All of my installation commanders are engaging with local government partners to mitigate unnecessary disruptions to traffic and community services.”
Click here to learn more about the potential impact.
