As Naval Support Activity Washington takes part in the anti-terrorism/force protection exercise Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield 2016, personnel at the installation may expect to see various parts of the exercise unfolding, emergency drills, increased force protection conditions, or emergency personnel responding to an exercise scenario.

But during all of this, a more subtle part of the exercise is unfolding, often without personnel realizing. These are the false credential drills.

False credential drills are when a role player participating in the exercise tries to gain access to the installation using invalid or false credentials. Police officers checking identification and credentials at installation gates verify an individual's credentials when they attempt to gain base access, and if the credentials are invalid, that individual is not allowed in.

While the drills are not as flashy or exciting as other parts of the SC-CS 16 exercise, they provide valuable training for the officers, with the goal of stopping a threat before it can even access the base.

"[These drills] ensure that our officers are being trained to recognize and react to persons trying to gain unauthorized access to our installation," said Bill Holdren, NSAW anti-terrorism officer. "Due to increased base access requirements, it's good for all officers to be able to discern proper and improper credentials at the gate."

The false credential drills are run several times throughout the exercise. Officials say they are a wonderful training tool, but not the only way to stop a threat.

"Credential checking is not the only way to ensure that the installation is secure," said Audrey Champagne, NSAW training officer. "This is just one of the items in our security tool box to make our security more efficient and effective. So we have ID checks, random vehicle checks, and make sure people's badges, placards, and other credentials are correct and things like that."

Champagne added that although the false credential drills are not the biggest part of the exercise, they do outlast it.

"We run false credential drills throughout the year," said Champagne. "But Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield is a good time to run additional training for the officers. We use the drills in the training to reemphasize the importance of them and bolster the exercise."

SC-CS is the largest anti-terrorism exercise conducted by any service branch and affects all Navy installations, units, tenants, activities, general flag officer residents, and Sailors in the U.S. Northern Command area of responsibility. Under the direction of U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, Navy Installations Command, Naval District Washington's participation in SC-CS 16 will test the region's ability to respond to a variety of impacting events while also meeting the Department of Defense's requirement to exercise all aspects of their respective anti-terrorism plan, including escalation of the force protection conditions.

For more information about NSAW and its Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield exercise, visit the NSAW facebook page www.facebook.com/NavalSupportActivityWashington or the NSAW website, www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/ndw/installations/nsa_washington.html.

For more news from Naval District Washington, visit www.navy.mil/.