Navy planning major anti-terrorism exercise

It’s just a drill, so don't be alarmed if you see sailors in battle gear taking up fighting positions around local Navy bases this week. Installations in the continental United States, Guam and Hawaii will participate in Exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield today through Friday, giving officials a snapshot of military readiness as the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaches. The Navy plans to simulate real-world threats, incorporating lessons learned from the 2000 bombing of the Navy destroyer Cole and the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, among others. "There will be a variety of scenarios through that week," said Brian O'Rourke, a Navy spokesman. He wouldn't detail the scenarios so as not to tip off the forces taking part in the exercise. For most people the exercise will make it harder at times to get on and off naval bases. "There may be a little bit of traffic now and then immediately around some of the bases during the week," he said. Civilian boaters in the San Diego Bay will not be affected, he said. Nationwide, the exercise will replicate a variety of possible scenarios, from an explosive going off on a Navy base to a bomb threat at a recruiting center. The public may see people in battle gear with guns, military dogs and fixed fighting positions manned at some bases. Security officials will track scores of potential threats and sailors' responses to them from a control room at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia. "You want to train the way you fight, so if you ...

Channel: YouTube Video Length: 24s Date Found: Tue, Feb 22 2011 9:36 PM Category: News Date Produced: Tue, Feb 22 2011 4:09 PM View Count: 0