Five news reporters plus a pair of military members were held at gunpoint Monday afternoon by Vandenberg Space Force Base security police who apparently believed they were gate runners despite having proper escort, identification and an invitation.

The incident occurred while a convoy — led by a government minivan with uniformed public affairs staff as escorts plus private vehicles — was en route to an invited event for a ceremony marking construction for a new training program.

Two of the private vehicles touted television station affiliations.

As is common practice, the media members — including two Noozhawk journalists — followed the public affairs staff vehicle, which had pulled over to wait for all members to get through the main gate before the convoy intended to proceed to the destination.

Apparently, at least one security forces member raised an alert about “gate runners,” prompting multiple members of the 30th Security Forces Squadron to converge after raising metal barricades to block the route along California Boulevard.

One by one, with firearms pointed at the group, base police ordered each vehicle to pull forward. Police then demanded that the drivers and passengers exit individually with hands raised.

The two military members — one enlisted and one a junior officer — were handcuffed and placed in the base vehicles, while the civilians were told to sit on the curb nearby.

As is typical procedure, military members had special passes or their names on an entry list while being escorted by public affairs personnel.

“Vandenberg Space Force Base is experiencing an increased number of unauthorized entry attempts,” a Space Launch Delta 30 Public Affairs spokeswoman said. “When media entered the installation, there was a breakdown in communication and movement continued prior to verification.

“Every potential unauthorized presence must be treated as a legitimate threat until proven otherwise. While we recognize this may have been unsettling, the security of the base and its personnel is our priority.”

Those held at gunpoint included two reporters at their first jobs after college and others well familiar with following rules who routinely access Vandenberg as media members escorted by public affairs staff.

The incident lasted more than 30 minutes, meaning the ceremony they had been invited to cover had ended before they arrived.

In addition to Noozhawk, the other media outlets with representatives held at gunpoint included KSBY, News Channel 3, 12 and 11, and the Santa Maria Times/Lompoc Record.

“It appears some members of the Vandenberg security team are seriously in need of additional training,” said Tom Bolton, Noozhawk editor in chief.

“This was a failure on multiple levels, and the base owes apologies to the affected journalists. The military’s response certainly was lacking.”

After releasing members of the media, one security forces member offered an apology for the interaction.

Vandenberg officials had invited media to cover “a golden shovel” groundbreaking ceremony to mark the official construction kickoff of the Air Force Air Education and Training Command’s new Sentinel Formal Training Unit.

Along with Vandenberg’s primary unit, the event included Air Force Global Strike Command’s Sentinel Task Force Detachment 9.

Sentinel is the next-generation, land-based intercontinental ballistic missile that will replace the Minuteman III weapons now on alert. Minuteman weapons have served the nation for decades.

“This is more than a new building,” said Col. James Horne, Space Launch Delta 30 commander. “It is a commitment to our airmen, to our allies and to every American who depends upon a credible and strong deterrent.”

While rocket launches and missile tests steal the spotlight, for decades Vandenberg has been the home for training of the Air Force’s missile combat crew operators and missile maintainers.

“The 160,000-square-foot campus will bring missile operator and maintainer training together in one integrated environment preparing the teams who will operate, sustain and safeguard Sentinel for decades to come,” Horne added.