MCAS Yuma schedules readiness exercise, security to increase April 20-24

Marine Corps Air Station Yuma will step up security and traffic control from April 20-24 as it takes part in Exercise Semper Durus, an annual antiterrorism and force protection drill that will be visible around the base gates and on nearby roads.

Residents in Yuma and the surrounding area may notice more first responders and military police, temporary delays at entry points, and mass notification system alerts as Marine Corps Installations-West runs the exercise at several installations. The base said the drill is designed to test command and control and the ability to support military forces while responding to a full spectrum of possible threats.

That matters here because MCAS Yuma is not a small outpost. Base public information says it supports about 80% of the Marine Corps’ air-to-ground aviation training, hosts roughly 70 aviation units each year, and sees an average of about 600 aircraft and 14,000 personnel on any given day. Any disruption at the gates or around flight operations can ripple through commutes, deliveries and day-to-day scheduling across west Yuma.

The station’s Mission Assurance Department handles anti-terrorism and force protection, critical infrastructure protection, emergency management and related preparedness work, the kind of planning that turns a readiness exercise into more than a paperwork drill. By running Semper Durus in a realistic setting, the base is checking whether it can keep operating under pressure while protecting personnel, equipment and training schedules.

MCAS Yuma also told the community to remain vigilant, use the U.S. Marine Corps Eagle Eyes reporting system for suspicious activity and call 911 for emergencies. That warning is meant to prevent confusion if residents see heavier security or a faster response from gate guards, patrols or emergency crews during the week.

The exercise fits a recurring pattern. Marine Corps Installations-West included MCAS Yuma in Semper Durus 2023, held April 10-14, and the station took part again in 2024 from April 22-26. MCI-West also ran Semper Durus 2025 from May 19-22 across multiple installations, including MCAS Yuma, as part of its broader readiness work.

Local officials say the base remains a major part of the Yuma economy, with Yuma County estimating about $654 million in annual economic activity tied to MCAS Yuma. The City of Yuma has also long used the 1996 Joint Land Use Plan, and a 2019 update recommending stricter development limits, to guide growth near the base and the Barry M. Goldwater Range. With a 2025 JLUP working group reviewing a draft full study report in mid-April 2026, military activity continues to shape both daily life and long-term planning in Yuma County.