Force protection qualifications

At sea aboard USS George Washington Airman Morgan Taylor from Louisville, Ky., fires a 9mm pistol to qualify for force protection watchstanding. Force protection watchstanding requires the training of Navy personnel in the skills necessary to perform specialized duties to protect their units, their mission, and crewmembers from acts of terrorism or sabotage. Students learn to deter, identify, track, and assess potential threats as well as acquiring skills at implementing immediate actions and protecting U.S. Department of Navy assets and personnel by utilizing proper force protection procedures and watchstanding techniques. Washington is homeported in Norfolk, Va., and is on a regularly scheduled deployment conducting combat missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate Airman Rex Nelson. File# 021008-N-6433N-001