By Allison Perrine | aperrine@tworivertimes.com
COLTS NECK – Naval Weapons Station Earle (NWSE) is currently participating in an annual force protection exercise from Feb. 3 through 14, the base announced.
Exercise Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2020 is being conducted by U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Navy Installations Command on all Navy installations in the continental U.S., according to a press release.
The exercise is designed “to enhance the readiness of Navy security forces and ensure seamless interoperability among the commands, other services and agency partners,” according to the release. The exercise is not being performed in response to any specific threats; it is a regularly scheduled exercise.
“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,” Rear Adm. Charles Rock, the commander of the Navy’s Mid-Atlantic Region, said in the release. “We test ourselves against an array of realistic scenarios and we conduct the exercise in coordination with our community partners.”
NWSE’s main side is in Colts Neck and its waterfront is in the Leonardo section of Middletown Township. The two areas are connected by private and federally owned roadways, according to the NWSE website. Area neighbors may experience increased traffic or delays around the bases throughout the exercise, or they may hear or see security activities associated with the exercise. Measures have been taken to try to minimize the number of disruptions to nearby neighbors and to normal base operations.
But the “see something, say something,” rule still applies, even during exercises, according to the release. “Everyone should report suspicious activity if they witness something. Advanced coordination has taken place with local law enforcement and first responders.”
For more information about potential impacts from the exercise, visit facebook.com/nwsearlenj or twitter.com/nwsearlenj.
The article originally appeared in the February 6-12, 2020 print edition of The Two River Times.
