Navy bases in San Diego will face potential delays during a major force protection exercise testing readiness against various threats.
SAN DIEGO — Visitors to San Diego-area Navy bases could experience delays Wednesday, while the Navy conducts a large-scale force protection training exercise.
Exercise Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield will take place at Naval installations across the country through Feb. 6. Held annually, the exercise is designed to strengthen the readiness of Navy security personnel and test how installations respond to a range of potential threats. Navy leaders emphasized the exercise is not tied to any specific threat and is part of regularly scheduled training.
Base officials warn the exercise may cause temporary traffic increases and delays at entry points, particularly on Wednesday. Navy Exchange and Commissary shoppers, family services clients and those with medical appointments may be impacted.
“Measures have been taken to minimize disruptions to normal base and workforce operations, but there may be times when the exercise causes increased traffic around bases or delays in base access,” said Capt. Brian Bungay, commanding officer of Naval Base San Diego. “Area residents may also see increased security presence associated with the exercise.”
Officials say patients visiting Naval Medical Center San Diego and branch medical clinics should plan ahead. Patients are advised to arrive at least 45 minutes early for scheduled appointments due to the potential for significant delays.
According to Bungay, the exercise focuses on realistic scenarios that test coordination between Navy commands, other military services and local municipal agencies.
“Testing the seamless interoperability between Navy commands, other military services, and our essential municipal agency partners allows the base to validate the Navy’s ability to deter and respond to threats in real time,” Bungay said.
This year’s exercise also includes the Ashore Navy Security Operations Exercise Program (NSOXP), which enhances threat detection from both land and sea. The program provides standardized scenarios and evaluation tools to assess security watch standers and small units.
“Force protection is everyone’s responsibility whether in competition or crisis,” said Adm. Karl Thomas, commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command. “Citadel Shield–Solid Curtain is a critical test of our preparedness and responsiveness.”
Naval Base San Diego, established in 1922, is the largest naval installation on the West Coast and the principal homeport of the Pacific Fleet, supporting more than 60 ships and 250 shore commands.