Active-shooter exercise conducted at WPNSTA Yorktown, US

Personnel from Naval Weapons Station (WPNSTA) Yorktown have joined with the police forces of Newport News and York County to conduct an ‘active shooter’ exercise as part of the Solid Curtain – Citadel Shield 2015 (SC-CS15) exercise.

The annual force protection and anti-terrorism (FP/AT) exercise, conducted by Commander, US Fleet Forces (USFF) and Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), is aimed at improving the training and capability of Navy security forces to react to threats againstinstallations and units.

Using realistic scenarios, the exercise assures the US navy security forces maintain an elevated of readiness in response to varying and dynamic threats.

US Fleet Forces (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 antiterrorism 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 proceduresthat are mutually beneficial."

During the exercise, the involved WPNSTA Yorktown security forces responded to a simulated hostage condition involving two armed suspects at the base chapel.

Further, the exercise will bolster integration among the base’s security and local police forces under a unified command to coordinate and determine the active shooter simulation.

Claimed to be the largest force protection exercise across the Department of Defense (DoD), the SC-CS enables military and civilian responders to sharpen emergency skills as threats emerge.