Briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
MARINES
Security tightens at Kane'ohe base
With the possibility of war with Iraq growing larger, Marine Corps Base Hawai'i has tightened security and recently drilled for a terrorist attack.
The Kane'ohe base supplemented its security force with 65 Marines from various units. The Marines received training on deadly force, weapons handling, escorts, interior guard, police ethics, introduction to terrorism and handling suspicious packages.
Military bases on O'ahu are at force protection level "bravo," meaning an increased and more predictable threat of terrorist activity exists. The level was increased from "alpha," one step above "normal."
Steps required during "bravo" include examining all incoming mail for bombs and random checks of visitors' hand-carried items.
NAVY
Sailors to get new housing
A $17.4 million bachelor enlisted housing project under way on the Makalapa Gate side of Pearl Harbor will provide new living quarters for 208 shore-based sailors. The housing is expected to be available beginning June 1.
Two sailors will share a room, kitchenette with a full-size refrigerator, microwave and bathroom.
Other amenities include a TV, iron and ironing board — items sailors would otherwise purchase, but have a hard time finding space for when they return to ship duty.
'Skinny Dragons' back at Kane'ohe
More than 30 "Skinny Dragons" from the Navy's Patrol Squadron 4 recently returned to Marine Corps Base Hawai'i at Kane'ohe Bay after a deployment to California.
VP-4 deployed Jan. 9 to Naval Air Station North Island with other patrol squadron elements, and for more than three weeks, flew P-3C Orion reconnaissance aircraft in support of the USS Nimitz battle group off San Diego for two exercises.
Composite Training Unit Exercise 3-02 and a Joint Task Force Exercise are normally held a month apart, but events required they be back to back.
The primary mission of the P-3s was anti-submarine warfare, but they also conducted anti-surface warfare and maritime interdiction.
During a maritime interdiction exercise, an improved version of the P-3 broke new ground by transmitting digital images directly to the battle group — doing away with the need for satellites or a ground station transfer of images.
