Base infrastructure strengthened by strategic barriers

3 Mar 2011 | Staff Sgt. Houston F. White Jr. Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

Marine Corps Logistic Base Barstow’s reputation as one of the safest installations within the Department of Defense for its employees has been strengthened further with the recent addition of various force protection measures.

The installation of heavy concrete barricades throughout the base, lowering the hazard of vehicle-borne explosive threats, was inevitable according to Base Security Officer Patrick Wolcott, Mission Assurance Division.

“Because of the increased terror threat level across the country, all bases were mandated to step up their force protection efforts,” said the Van Nuys, Calif., native. “MCLB Barstow implemented a centralized parking plan to mitigate as much of the threat as we can.

“By establishing barriers and cabling them together with stainless steel aircraft arresting cable,” he added, “we intend to lower the risk of a vehicle IED attack against one of our buildings being successful. The (Installation and Logistics) guys began this project a couple of weeks ago and have done a quality job.”

Wolcott also mentioned that although the base wide project “is just receiving lots of attention now around the base,” including Headquarters Building 15, the installation of barriers throughout the base has been going on for several years.

“The Union Hall has had barriers around it for well over two years,” he said. “The plan has been in place for awhile— we’ve just been waiting for the labor dollars to install it.”   

MCLB Barstow Information Security Manager Anthony Rose said that with the increased security measures, members of the base community should be more alert and aware of their surroundings.

“People will need to exercise their visual acuity,” the San Francisco native said, “and focus on paying attention to avoid the restraining cables when entering buildings.”

While the barriers may take a brief period of adjustment for MCLB Barstow visitors and members of the base community, Wolcott said the end result of the barriers would be a safer working environment for base employees.

“We don’t want a car rolling up and going ‘poof’ into one of our buildings,” he remarked.

MCLB Barstow has plans to integrate additional force protection measures in the future as well, said MAD systems emergency manager, James Jones.

“We plan on installing escape hoods inside our buildings for employees in case of a chemical accident or spill that doesn’t require them to be certified to use it,” the Philadelphia native added. “They are the same specialized masks used by the Pentagon and a safety course on the new equipment is forthcoming.”


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