Anti-Terrorism Drills at Walter Reed Campus Through Feb. 10

BETHESDA, MD — Anti-terrorism drills at Naval Support Activity Bethesda, home of the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, will cause traffic delays at times and may surprise visitors with the sight of people handling colored weapons, officials warned Monday. NSAB will conduct the exercises on its campus on Rockville Pike in Bethesda sometime between Jan. 30 and Feb. 10.

A news release warns residents and employees that there may be traffic delays near an NSAB gate and unusual sounds and actions on campus related to the exercises. During these two weeks, NSAB will conduct several force protection exercises on the campus, including entry gates. Personnel may experience a temporary delay or closure of roads, sidewalks, and/or at least one gate.

Exercises will be monitored by safety observers. Participants will simulate response by handling red-orange colored training weapons. These weapons are solid rubber and do NOT fire munitions.

Authorities will not reveal exact times and exercise locations to anyone either before or during the exercises. The public is asked not to call emergency dispatch or security department personnel to ask for information because it interferes with the use of emergency communications equipment and prevents real-world emergencies from being answered in a timely manner.

»Photo from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center website