An invitation to a Vandenberg Space Force Base groundbreaking turned into a weapons-drawn standoff for the press and two service members who were supposed to be guests.
Five reporters and two military members were part of a convoy escorted onto the base Monday by uniformed public affairs staff in a government minivan when security officers ordered everyone out of the vehicles with hands up. Guns were pointed, sirens sounded and barricades went up at the gate, according to local reports from Noozhawk and KEYT.
The group was heading to an invitation-only ceremony for a new training facility for missile operators near Santa Barbara. The two service members, one enlisted and one junior officer, were handcuffed, and the reporters were held for more than 30 minutes, causing them to miss the event.
Space Launch Delta 30 called the incident a breakdown in communication. In a statement, the wing said Vandenberg is experiencing an increased number of unauthorized entry attempts and that every potential unauthorized presence must be treated as a legitimate threat until proven otherwise.
Tom Bolton, editor in chief of Noozhawk, said the response was unfortunate, unnecessary and potentially dangerous because firearms were drawn. He said he hopes to review the incident with base leadership to prevent a repeat.
The episode illustrates the tension between hardened entry controls at missile and launch bases and the routine access that journalists and support staff need. Vandenberg hosts ICBM test launches and is a hub for the Sentinel missile modernization program, the facility at the center of Monday’s ceremony.
All those detained were released without further incident.
