Residents near the Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station may see or hear an increase in military and law enforcement activity over the next few weeks as Navy personnel participate in Citadel Shield-Solid Curtain 2026, an annual nationwide security exercise.
The training is scheduled to run from Tuesday, Jan. 20, through Feb. 9.
All Navy bases throughout the United States will participate in the exercise, which is part of regularly scheduled training intended to maintain readiness among the branch’s security forces. Military officials said the drills are not in response to any specific threat.
The heightened security activity may lead to increased traffic around the weapons station and delays in base access, including temporary gate closures.
The U.S. Fleet Forces Command said the drills will test the station’s ability to coordinate with the local community and first responders, as well as its information dissemination, individual response plans and security force responses.
Officials said the exercises may feature smoke generators, role players and noise from the base’s mass notification loudspeaker and alarm systems.
Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach spokesperson Gregg Smith said civilian boat traffic through Anaheim Bay is unlikely to be affected.
The Seal Beach station is the primary munitions storage and maintenance installation for the Navy’s Pacific Fleet.
Additional updates will be shared on the station’s Facebook page.