Force protection exercise scheduled for June 1 Published May 20, 2010 By Capt. Jeremy Ponn 97 Air Mobility Wing ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The base will conduct a force protection exercise at approximately 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 1. All gates will most likely be closed for approximately three to four hours and all base personnel and individuals with business on the installation are encouraged to avoid attempting access during this time. Base personnel or residents that require entry or exit to the installation during that period should plan to enter or exit the base prior to the exercise. Base residents will hear Giant Voice announcements and alert radio messages. This exercise is part of a sweeping effort by the Department of Defense to refine response actions to scenarios similar to the incident at Fort Hood, Texas, last November. Base personnel have been intently focused on benefiting from the lessons learned out of the response and follow up to that incident. This exercise is part of a combined Air Education and Training Command exercise involving Vance AFB in Enid, Okla., and Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas. While no known similar threat exists at any of the installations, the 97th Air Mobility Wing must always be prepared for the potential of a similar style attack. Expect extensive delays at the gate during the exercise period. Please direct any questions to Capt. Jeremy Ponn, Altus AFB Chief of Wing Inspections, at (580) 481-6664.