The US Army Reserve – Puerto Rico 1st Mission Support Command has conducted an active terrorist threat training exercise at Fort Buchanan.
The drill was held to hone the command’s security capabilities during emergency situations and train safety personnel.
Currently, the installation is the only US Army segment assigned in the Caribbean.
Active Shooter, Suspicious Package Simulations
At the event, the US Army and partners simulated an active shooter scenario at the 1st Mission Support Command’s headquarters and a suspicious package scenario at the Army and Airforce Exchange System.
Warnings were played over the fort’s “giant voice” system and sirens as activities commenced to inform personnel in action and response vehicles.
“An active shooter attack can occur anywhere, and we must all be prepared. We all play a vital role in preventing these situations,” US Army Counterterrorism Operations Specialist Hector Herrera said.
Delta Security Level Practiced
During the drill, the command increased the Force Protection Condition Level or FPCON to Delta, the fifth and highest state of security for installations.
FPCON Delta required the fort to close its gates for a period of time.
“It is critical for the Fort Buchanan community to participate in exercises like this Antiterrorism drill to ensure we are prepared for any scenario at the only US Army installation in the Caribbean,” Fort Buchanan Commander Col. Charles Moulton explained.
“We hope it never happens, but we are prepared to deal with it quickly if it does. We thank every member of the Fort Buchanan community and the surrounding communities for their patience during the event.”
Fort Buchanan
Fort Buchanan serves as the US Army’s center of gravity in the region. It comprises about 15,000 reserve, active duty, and National Guard soldiers.
In addition to army members, the site houses personnel from the US Navy’s Operational Support Center and the US Marine Corps Reserve.
Furthermore, the fort provides critical services to the civilian population of the US Department of Defense, veterans, their families, and over 30 federal agencies located in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.