Joint Protection Seminar 2020

Photo By Lance Cpl. Mitchell Collyer | Joint service security personnel pose for a photo during the Joint Protection Seminar at Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans, Oct. 7, 2020. This seminar’s intent is to enhance protection and improve information sharing capabilities and programs across the joint force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Mitchell Collyer)  

NEW ORLEANS, LA, UNITED STATES

10.07.2020

Courtesy Story

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

MARINE CORPS SUPPORT FACILITY NEW ORLEANS, La. - Marine Forces Reserve hosted the first annual Joint Protection Seminar at Marine Corps Support Facility, New Orleans, October 6-7, 2020. The seminar's intent was to share the current protection program status to the reserve components, and to apply best practices across the joint force.

Attending the seminar were the top minds in force protection from each service who provided an overview of service-wide protection program updates, physical security upgrades and enhancements, and best practices from their services respectively. The desired endstate was to synchronize all reserve components across the Department of Defense.

Reflecting on July 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a gunman opened fire at the Naval Operation Support Center there, killing four Marines and one sailor. Service members and civilians continue to witness ongoing threats and harm against our personnel, with more recent attacks at Fort Story, Virginia, Naval Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Following the attacks, Marine Forces Reserve and Navy Forces Reserve Command began to work together to strengthen the integrity of each other's installations.

There is nothing more important to each of the services than the people serving, who can't be replaced in the way equipment can. The protection plans are crucial in the prevention of future attacks and safeguarding of personnel and their families.

“All of these installations have tenants from other services and each of the services you represent function as either tenants or hosts on military installations, bases, and reserve training centers across the nation. As a result, we cannot overstate the importance of inter-service coordination with our protection and security related programs,” said Lt. Gen David G. Bellon, Commander, Marine Forces Reserve and Marine Forces North.

Marines and sailors of Marine Forces Reserve are always ready to go, fight, and win. They continually train their bodies and minds to be fully prepared for the rigors of combat and other operations. They must harden their facilities and protect their people to ensure Marine Forces Reserve can engage adversaries on its terms.

“We must identify any seams or gaps and be prepared to respond to attacks targeting our military and civilian personnel,” said Bellon.

This year's Joint Protection Seminar aimed to resolve these conflicts and answer these questions. It is the first of many to come with the intent of bringing together the best ideas and practices in order to better protect the services' most valued assets, the people serving.

“We must consistently look for ways to improve our program, share our knowledge, and learn from our counterparts to prevent or mitigate our adversary's actions. I encourage each of you to work together to determine best practices for implementing local protection policies within your commands,” said Bellon.

• Date Taken: 10.07.2020
• Date Posted: 10.08.2020 08:58
• Story ID: 380457
• Location: NEW ORLEANS, LA, US