Since the attack on USS Cole (DDG 67) on Oct. 12, 2000, and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, the Navy has been especially diligent in their approach to anti-terrorism force protection.

USS Abraham Lincoln proved to be no exception as the crew faced two days of intense drills during their Force Protection Exercise (FPEX) in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Nov. 23-24.

According to Lincoln’s Security Officer, Ensign Gregory Boniface, FPEX was the culmination of more than 2,000 man-hours of training, more then 70 drills, and the acquisition of approximately $80,000 in replacement Force Protection equipment. Sailors assigned to Abraham Lincoln’s Security Forces have been training since the completion of its 11-month long over-haul at Naval Station Puget Sound, preparing themselves for the recent exercise, and the Force Protection concerns associated with foreign port visits.

The carrier and its battle group were still considered to be in their work-up cycle until passing the FPEX. Upon completion of FPEX, the ship’s Force Protection Command Duty Officer (FPCDO) announced to the crew that they had successfully finishing their pre-deployment training cycle and were now in port number one of their Western Pacific deployment.

The Force Protection Exercises are mandated by Command Third Fleet as a way to ensure each ship is prepared to defend itself while conducting foreign ports visits. Normally conducted five to six months prior to a deployment, the exercise is intended to give commanding officers and their crews several months to correct or improve things noted during the exercises.

According to Master at Arms 1st Class Robert Falany, Jr., Lincoln Security department’s leading petty officer training was the key to achieving this milestone. “It is how we evaluate ourselves and our ability to protect the ship when it comes to force protection measures,” he said. Falany added that since the bombing of USS Cole and 9/11, the Navy’s security forces have focused more and more on protecting the ship and its crew. Lincoln’s security department has trained constantly in preparation not only for FPEX, but the to defend the ship in case the unexpected happens as well.

Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group’s recent surge deployment, which required the ship to leave seven months ahead of a normally scheduled deployment, meant the Security Forces had no time to make any major changes, and needed to “do it right the first time.”

Security Forces were faced with intelligence gathering operations, peaceful demonstrations, intrusion attempts, telephonic Bomb Threats, small boat attacks, violent protestors, swimmer attacks, improvised explosive devices in vehicles and even a chemical attack. 

These evolutions, normally conducted over three full days, had to be compressed into an excruciating two-day schedule because of operational concerns.  During this same time period, all units of the Strike Group had to exercise increases in Force Protection Conditions (FPCON), from FPCON Alpha Plus, through Bravo, Charlie and all the way to manning FPCON Delta.

Evaluators from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Commander, United States Third Fleet, Afloat Training Group and Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific were aboard each unit providing realistic scenarios for the security forces and then grading everything from command and control to general crew reaction, said Boniface.

“We look at several different measures, such as security on the pier, security on the ship, how we let people on board,” said Falany. The drills showed how Lincoln Security teams responded to threats such as swimmers in the water, suspicious packages, small boats approaching the ship and even angry mobs challenging the guards on the pier.

One of the new tools the ship uses for force protection is the Secondary Response Force (SRF). 

“They are what we consider to be our elite patrolmen,” said Falany of the members of the force. They are trained to respond to the worst-case scenario.  If the worst happens, according to Falany, “They are the guys that we want to tackle the intruder on deck.”

According to Master at Arms 2nd Class (PJ) Chad Bearden, SRF team leader and primary tactical instructor, the key to the Lincoln Security team’s success is training, training and more training.

“We’re like the ship’s S.W.A.T. (Special Weapons And Tactics) team,” said Bearden. “We train a lot more (than the regular patrolman). We’re trained to respond (directly) to any type of security alert… swimmer attacks, suspicious packages, hostage situations...”

According to Bearden, an increase in tactical knowledge and a slightly different set of rules of engagement than the ship’s primary security cadre allow SRF to go into a serious situation and defuse it. Their rigorous training schedule, in addition to the required security training all of Lincoln’s force protection troops must go through, includes hand-to-hand combat training, tactical movement training, even how to identify and isolate an explosive device until Explosive Ordnance Disposal team members can remove the threat.

“We’ve got a different mission and a different mindset,” said Bearden.

Part of their mission requires them to wear an extra 50 lbs of gear - armor plated bullet-proof vests, tactical vests with extra pockets for magazines, pepper spray, even floatation to counter the weight of their gear. 

According to Falany, the SRF teams, along with the highly trained primary security force aboard make a formidable and successful team - one any potential attacker would think twice about challenging. 

“We’re working smarter,” said Falany. “We’ve been training pretty hard over the last few months,” he said of the drills. “But terrorism isn’t planned by anybody but the terrorists, so we have to be ready for this.

“I’m very excited to see what is going to come after this drill package - what’s going to happen next week and the week after that and how our ship’s going to come together and how we’re going to make (force protection) a ship-wide effort,” he added.

Abraham Lincoln Strike Group successfully passed the exercise with the help of all hands. Receiving many compliments from the inspectors during the debrief, battle group commander, Rear Adm. Doug Crowder and each commanding officer in turn expressed their appreciation for the hard work and a job well done by all involved. 

Although FPEX is over, considerations such as operational security, force protection and even things like reporting a suspicious character taking pictures of the ship from the pier are still important as Lincoln heads West for the rest of this surge deployment. With the cooperation of all-hands and the continued vigilance of Lincoln’s Security team, a safe and successful deployment is sure to follow.