Earle Naval Exercises to Heighten Security

When traveling through or to the area of , on Route 36 in the Leonardo section of Middletown, people may experience some traffic delays and a hike in security activity from March 19 to 24.

That is because U.S. Navy bases and installations will be conducting “what are annual security test/training exercises to ensure that Earle is as prepared as it can be for any possible security challenge,” Earle Spokesman Mike Brady said. “It’s called SOLID CURTAIN-CITADEL SHIELD 2012. The navy is intentionally vague about it, of course. It’s a matter of internal security. At our level, we don’t even know yet what these tests and training exercises will entail.”

The exercises are no indication of a real threat, merely routine exercises, Brady said.

The primary reason for the public notification, he added, is that the Navy wants people to know and understand that the during the week of the exercises, the Navy is “trying to keep people accessing the bases to a minimum. There aren’t as many visitors to the Leonardo waterfront complex, but we still want people to be aware.”

Brady said that because there will be such heightened security and searching of cars to anyone entering the base, traffic back-ups are a possibility on Route 36.

“It’s more of an issue for the main-side base on Route 34 (Colts Neck),” he said. “There may be retirees trying to enter to use facilities there, such as the credit union, and they’ll be closed, in addition to the heightened security.”

have been notified about the exercises and asked to keep vigilant watch in the area, Brady said.