Expect sounds of gunfire and ‘Giant Voice’ system during Navy drills

NAVAL WEAPONS STATION

Local residents may hear and see an increase in law enforcement activities at the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station starting Monday, Feb. 5, as base personnel take part in an annual series of nationwide security exercises.

The exercises, collectively called Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2024, will be conducted simultaneously on all Navy bases throughout the continental United States. At the Naval Weapons Station, drills and training will be conducted on a wide range of potential security scenarios on the land and in the water.

The exercises may cause increased traffic, delays in base access, and temporary gate closures. Some drills may include the use of blank machine gun fire, which can sound like actual gunshots from a distance. The station’s “Giant Voice” mass notification loudspeaker and alarm system may also be used.

The series of exercises are scheduled to run for two weeks and conclude by Friday, Feb. 16. They are not in response to any specific threat, but are part of regularly scheduled annual training, developed to enhance the readiness of Navy security teams.

For live updates, go to Facebook and search “Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Detachment Fallbrook, Detachment Norco.”