San Diego Navy installations caution drivers about Feb. 4 gate delays during Solid Curtain-Citadel Shield exercise
Annual force-protection drill expected to slow access at key San Diego-area Navy sites
Several San Diego-area Navy installations warned that motorists could face heavier traffic and longer waits at entry gates on Wednesday, Feb. 4, as part of an annual security exercise running through Feb. 6.
The exercise, known as Solid Curtain/Citadel Shield, is a regularly scheduled force-protection training event conducted across Navy installations nationwide. Base officials said the activity is designed to test security procedures and coordination in realistic scenarios, and is not being conducted in response to a specific threat.
Where delays may be noticed most
Military officials said they have taken steps to reduce disruptions to routine operations, but acknowledged that scenario-based training can cause intermittent slowdowns near gates and along surrounding roadways. Residents near installations may also notice a heightened security presence during the exercise window.
The most significant local impacts were projected for Wednesday, Feb. 4, with potential effects for both routine base traffic and visitors. Officials specifically flagged possible delays for people traveling to on-base services and appointments, including:
- Customers visiting Navy Exchange and commissary facilities
- Clients accessing family-support and related services
- Patients and visitors heading to military medical facilities
Medical appointments: guidance to arrive early
Naval Medical Center San Diego and branch clinic patients, visitors, and staff were advised to anticipate significant delays and increased traffic connected to exercise activity. Guidance issued with the exercise information urged patients to arrive at least 45 minutes early for scheduled appointments to account for potential gate backups and internal traffic impacts.
What the Navy says the exercise is testing
Base leadership described the drill as a readiness and evaluation event intended to pressure-test security teams and command-and-control processes. The exercise is structured to assess how installations detect, deter, and respond to a range of simulated threats, including how units coordinate with other military organizations and essential municipal partners.
Officials said the scenarios are designed to be realistic and challenging, with an emphasis on validating coordination among commands and response partners under time pressure.
Additional security training component included
The exercise period also includes the Ashore Navy Security Operations Exercise Program, a standardized framework used to evaluate force-protection performance through graded scenarios. The program is intended to strengthen threat detection and response from both land and sea, while providing commanders with structured evaluation tools for security watchstanders and small units.
Officials recommended that drivers with time-sensitive appointments on Feb. 4 plan for longer-than-usual travel times, consider earlier arrivals, and expect intermittent changes in traffic flow near base access points through Feb. 6.