Marine Corps Air Station Miramar will be on a base lockdown Tuesday

MIRAMAR — All gates at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar will be on temporary lockdown Tuesday, Jan. 8, as part of a base security drill.

The drill is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. and includes rehearsal of procedures in the event an actual base closure is needed.

“The exercise is an opportunity for Miramar personnel, family members, retirees and visitors to practice lockdown procedures in the case of a potential emergency,” said Capt. Matthew Gregory. “All MCAS Miramar entry and exit gates are scheduled to be closed for a temporary period during the exercise. Members of the community may experience a slowing of traffic near the base.”

Military police will monitor traffic and work with local law enforcement to mitigate traffic-related issues outside the gates. Police also will restrict traffic flow on the base and personnel will be subject to military checkpoints during the exercise.

“These types of exercises certainly do improve our safety and security posture aboard the base,” Gregory said.

“It is a multifaceted exercise that will test our first responders’ abilities and the readiness of the personnel on the base,” he said. “This includes but is not limited to individual building lockdowns, closing MCAS Miramar’s gates to traffic, halting traffic aboard the station altogether and simulated medical emergencies.”