Joint Base's Planned Exercise May Impact Traffic This Week

Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst will be conducting a more intense set of training called a force protection condition exercise starting Tuesday that will likely affect traffic in the area of the base’s gates, officials said.

The force protection condition exercise is scheduled to begin Tuesday and run through Saturday and will demonstrate quick response forces.

Joint base personnel should expect to see gate closures and barriers in place throughout the week, Lt. Col. Eric Moomey, 87th Air Base Wing inspector general, said in a news release.

The main impact will be to traffic, as well as the ability to move around the base, he said. The exercise is designed to ensure installation readiness in case of any threats or hazards to the base.

During the exercise, joint base members will respond to changing FPCONs and respond to command directives. The training will focus on honing response skills of installation personnel.

Anyone who has business in the area should plan extra time to get to their destinations because of the potential for impacts.

Access to specific areas around the base was kept in mind while organizing the exercise, Moomey added.

“We were concerned with impacts to schools and essential services, such as the medical clinic. All those will remain open,” he said. “You may have some inconveniences, so we encourage everyone to put a little more time into their travel plans and follow all the guidance security forces has if they’re directing traffic. Just exercise some patience.”

“The installation commander, Col. James Hodges, is very committed to the health and safety of his personnel and resources,” Moomey said. “The mission of this is to validate the planned expertise of the members working through the force protection measures we already have in place and to ensure we’re ready.”