NAS Fallon conducts annual readiness exercise

Personnel at Naval Air Station Fallon and the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center have been engaged in the annual Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2023 exercise to test the readiness of the air station’s emergency assets when facing security threats.

Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain is an annual two-part force protection exercise that has been implemented on all Navy installations within the continental United States. The commanders of U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC) and Navy Installations Command (CINC) are conducting the two-week exercise.

The second part of the drill will involve the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office providing assistance outside of the installation. Capt. Shane Tanner, commanding officer at NAS Fallon, said it’s important for NAS Fallon to coordinate with local emergency responders and the Churchill County community.

According to Zip Upham, spokesman for NAS Fallon, the base will be conducting a simulated evacuation event.

“We’re going to allow the evacuation to be folded into their departure (at the end of the work day),” Upham pointed out.

Upham said base personnel will leave the installation, but they will be using a different route to leave to their homes. He added there could be some impact on the northern stretch of Pasture Road near Wildes Road. To aid with the drill, Upham said the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office will provide assistance with the road closure.

“There won’t be much impact to the general public,” Upham said.

Every year, the scenario on the naval installations differs. This year, NAS Fallon personnel dealt with a small group of protestors who assembled at one of the gates and a breach of security at the main gate. They were protesting the Navy’s expansion into a Dixie Valley area that is known for an endangered toad. The second part focused on base security and emergency responders.

“We were engaged with an active shooter and gate runner,” said Tanner. “We employed the proper tactics against a threat.”

Although the exercise executed at NAS Fallon is not related to current threats, Tanner said they assist the air station’s readiness and how to respond to potential security threats. At the same time of the active-shooter gate-runner scenario, for example, emergency responders arrived at the scene of a F-35 crash that involved the air station’s Federal Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services.

“It’s really exciting to see the team work on different parts of the exercise and coordinate responses to the various threats,” he said.

As the scenario of the active shooter and gate-runner unfolded at the main gate, the situation may cause a real-word scenario unfolding for indirect participants. During the gate-runner scenario, the main gate was closed for more than 30 minutes while security forces neutralized the threat. Tanner emphasized safety and security of those involved with the drill is a top priority.

The second part of this year’s Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2023 exercise will enable NAS Fallon’s EOC to work at the next Higher Force Protection Level to monitor and react to ongoing threats.

“The Higher Force Protection Level will require more resources,” Tanner said.

Overall, the exercise includes 324,000 active duty and 58,000 U.S. Navy Reserve personnel along with 210,966 Navy civilian employees.