The 45th Security Forces Squadron will conduct a base defense training exercise at the Malabar Annex on Friday, May 22, 2026.

Palm Bay, FL – The 45th Security Forces Squadron will conduct a Base Defense Field Training Exercise at the Malabar Annex on Friday, May 22, 2026. The exercise runs from approximately 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Residents near the site may hear sounds similar to small explosions and may see colored smoke. There is no cause for alarm.

What Residents Can Expect

Training devices used during the exercise will create conditions that simulate an active perimeter defense scenario:

  • Ground Burst Simulators that produce loud sounds similar to small explosions.
  • Smoke grenades that release clouds of green-colored smoke.

No live ammunition will be used. All activities are supervised. The effects are temporary and confined to the Malabar Annex grounds. If you see or hear something unusual near Minton Road NE on Friday, this exercise is the explanation.

Why It Matters for Residents

The 45th Security Forces Squadron is responsible for protecting Patrick Space Force Base, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, and supporting facilities including the Malabar Annex. Field training exercises like this one keep security personnel proficient in base defense tactics and rapid-response procedures.

The Space Coast hosts some of the most valuable launch infrastructure in the country. Keeping the security units that protect it sharp requires realistic, periodic field training.

About the Malabar Annex

The Malabar Annex sits on approximately two square miles of mostly forested land in southwest Palm Bay, near 5600 Minton Road NE. The site traces its roots to a World War II-era Naval Outlying Landing Field. The Air Force took it over as a transmitter and communications site in the mid-1950s. Today, Space Launch Delta 45 administers the property, and it serves as a training ground for the 45th Security Forces Squadron, the 920th Rescue Wing, Army Reserve units, and the Florida National Guard. Public access is restricted.

Stay Informed

Residents with questions can contact the Space Launch Delta 45 Public Affairs Office at 321-494-5933 or SLD45.PA.PublicAffairs@Spaceforce.mil. Future advisories are posted at the Patrick Space Force Base Public Advisories page.

Prior Coverage: Malabar Annex Training Exercise Advisory, September 2025 | Training Exercise at Malabar Annex, February 2025

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