The 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, and other Defense Department facilities around the nation increased their terrorist threat level last Friday to “Force Protection Bravo,” setting off a comprehensive process of measures intended to protect troops and their family members.
Navy Adm. Bill Gortney, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Northern Command, elevated the protection level so military personnel would be on “increased vigilance” because of a “vast array of threats, not any specific threat” such as ISIS, according to Air Force Master Sgt. Chuck Marsh, a Northern Command spokesman.
The elevation was a result of the May 3 shootings in Garland, Texas, between police officers guarding a controversial exhibit of cartoons about Islam’s Prophet Muhammad and two gunmen from Phoenix. The gunmen were killed trying to gain revenge for what they believed was the desecration of a holy figure.
“The impact to the base (March ARB) populace should be very minimal,” said Master Sgt. Jeffrey Dennis, NCO in charge of police services, 452nd Security Forces Squadron. “There may be a small increase in random vehicle inspections.”
