MCAS Yuma set to hold force protection exercise this week
Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, as any military base around the country, is not immune from the possibility of natural disasters such as wildfires, explosions, terrorist attacks or hostage situations, and will hold a full-scale base force protection exercise (FPE) this week at the air station to hone its response skills in the event an incident occurs.
According to information provided by Capt. Gabriel Adibe, of the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma Public Affairs Office, the exercise, dubbed Semper Durus 18, will be conducted from April 23 to April 26.
Semper Durus is a regional command post exercise that is comprised of a series of field training scenarios that are designed at allow air station leaders to improve the installation’s capabilities to effectively respond to increased threats or emergencies and execute sustained operations at heightened levels.
Over the three-day period leadership will activate the air station’s Command Operations Center, responding to numerous simulated threats throughout the exercise such as an Active Shooter on April 24.
The Station Headquarters is an active participant and all station personnel, civilian employees and visitors should expect restricted traffic in and around the headquarters building that day.
Base units such as the Provost Marshal’s Office, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Marine Corps Air Station, the Yuma Fire Department, and other military and civilian organizations will come together to react to the scenarios.
The Yuma Regional Medical Center and the Yuma County Airport Authority, also plan contribute to the exercise in an effort to increase interoperability between the groups. Emergency vehicles may also be seen entering and exiting the air station.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.