Ship security wise? Not so many years ago the only ships at NOB that had armed guard at the Quarterdeck was the subs in the Pier 1 area. The carriers and LPH had MARDET or Marine Detachment full time onboard to respond to security issues. Yes they were armed. I'm talking about what was Cold War posture. The main gate was manned by USMC and their was a pier watch. During the Iranian Hostage Crisis the ships began posting pier guards.
As for weapons training? generally the Navy doesn't have this in basic training. You might have a couple hours with a .22 and that's it. The Navy does have ratings which are trained in security and firearms. This includes Master At Arms made a rate back about 1980 and Gunner Mates. Also some specific officers or enlisted handling having duty involving handling money or sensitive material may be firearm qualified. The Navy did not discourage firearm qualification it's just that in most ratings it wasn't needed. Submarine duty is another exception where you'll see firearm training.
As budget cuts came about and the nuclear arms treaties were put in place some of the security was lessened even to at pre-9/11 where people were basically walking on bases with no ID. In The Cold War you had to have ID or you waited at the gate until someone from your ship showed up to vouch for you and sign you in or if it was a non service visitor such as family with ID or prior clearance they had to be escorted on base by relative in dress uniform of the day. No one non Navy got onboard without a uniformed escort the exception being civilian Tech Reps who had proper DOD ID.
This sounds like the perp was looking for the first opportunity to do some carnage. The classic 15 minutes of fame even though the person would not live to see it. The piers and base does need to be secure. Used to it was Marines working the gates and civilian police force aka base security in vehicle patrols. Security needs to be turned over to in house. It's a Navy Base and USMC are the ones most capable and qualified in securing it if allowed the authority and leeway needed to do so.
Any unauthorized boarding attempt after the shout of Halt should be met with use of deadly force. Some may say it's too extreme. Well this old boy has had many a M-16 pointed at me by MARDET usually at lunch or supper time which was the MARDTS's CO's favorite time to hold a drill. Anyone including sailors who attempted unauthorized entry into security areas without permission and proper authorization would have been made a pin cushion. Thus no one tested them just to see.
Do you know if the larger ships still have Marine Detachments assigned?
I think the carriers used to have around 70 leatherheads.
BTW, when little ol’ peon me got guard duty or Duty NCO in “the field” back then we had 5 rounds of rifle ammo or five rounds of 45 for the pistol. And we were sure were not allowed to chamber—— ahem. Or do it and make damn sure you don’t have an AD.
I do know somebody who had a 22 revolver hidden under his field jacket when pulling guard duty in the middle of the night in wintertime-——but I can’t mention that guy’s name ;)
Update:
PilotOnline.com: Navy launching 2nd investigation ...
Among other new information, Clark said the assailant - whom officials have identified but not named publicly - should not have been on the base that night. At the gate driving a tractor-trailer cab, he used a valid credential called a TWIC card, issued to transportation and maritime workers. But Mayo's shooter also should have had a legitimate business reason for coming in, and Clark suggested he didn't."On this particular evening," Clark said, "he did not have authorization to be on my base."
Clark said the Navy is launching a second investigation - on top of one being conducted by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service - that will examine how the shooter made it through the gate as well as another checkpoint before the pier.
Mario Palomino, NCIS's agent in charge, said investigators haven't determined a motive. They don't think the assailant, who Palomino said did not work for the Defense Department, knew anyone on the Mahan.
And they don't think the attack was planned.
"We have been able to rule out any additional threat to the Navy," Palomino said. "We have ruled out any link to terrorism."
He said that before Mayo died, he shot back.
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comment at link:
Anyone find it curious Submitted by RivahMitch on Wed, 03/26/2014 at 6:14 pm. that while the government immediately announces that "there's no link to terrorism" the name of the murderer, presumably on it's TSA approved ID card, has NOT been released?
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yeah . . .there are a few of us that remain curious. I suspect there are several additional curious posters at the comments section of that site given the number of deleted comments based on
"rules violation. Reason: Disparaging ..."
What you say was true for the Cold War era but things did start changing pre-9/11, specifically after the COLE attack. Pier security was beefed up and more armed watches were put out. Additionally the weapons were carried in condition one, a big change from the past. Much more training and fam fires were given, but still probably not enough.