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Security forces Airmen participate in active shooter training

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dilia DeGrego
  • 305th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Office
McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  The halls of Challenger School in Falcon Courts North stand empty and still - then, like a crash of thunder, the silence is broken, the sound of gun fire and calls for help fill the air. A "shooter" has taken the school hostage. Moments later, help is on the way, a team of highly-trained and armed 305th Security Forces Squadron Airmen stealthfully move through the hallways answering the call. Their orders are clear, direct and come natural to the Airmen as they move, searching and securing each room. The sound of their voices echoes through the halls. Gun fire, then silence; the situation is neutralized. Then, like a streaming news broadcast, the scene plays out again and again.

The active-shooter training scenario at Challenger School was revisited countless times during the first two classes of active-shooter training here recently. Members of the 305th SFS participated in this benchmark security forces training, which augments the current curriculum that covers mainly wartime and domestic disturbance scenarios.

"With the increasing violence taking place in work centers and at our schools, the emphasis across the nation on conducting this type of training has increased," said Master Sgt. James Warrick, Security Forces Expeditionary Combat Skills Training and training superintendent. "Law enforcement agencies across the country have developed similar training programs to ensure their officers are prepared for this type of scenario.

"None of the facilities, to include five schools (here), are immune from the possibility of this type of violence," Sergeant Warrick continued. "Our 621st Contingency Response Wing building, when it was the 21st Air Force Headquarters, had an active shooter situation about 12 years ago."

The McGuire active-shooter program is based on law enforcement training the 305th SFS previously received. Each class consists of an average of 30 to 50 students, led by approximately six to eight instructors.

"We're developing a training program that is in addition to the minimum required by Air Force instruction," said Sergeant Warrick. "Although not a new concept in civilian police agencies, for the Air Force, this is a new initiative to ensure we're properly prepared. As Lt. Col. (Pernell) Watson, (305th SFS commander), has said to our unit in the past, 'this type of event on our installation is a low-probable, high-consequence event. We need to be prepared.'"

Because this type of scenario, if it were to occur, is so chaotic, having the training to fall back on is critical, added Sergeant Warrick.

Active shooter program students Senior Airman Jardam Moore, Philadephia native, and Airman 1st Class Kelly Knight, Queens, N.Y., native, agree.

"Shooters happen in public places like schools, it could happen here. It's a real threat and we have to be prepared for it," said Airman Moore.

"(The active shooter training) helps us get a sense of what it would be like to be in a situation like this," said Airman Knight. "You can't identify how to handle a situation like this until you are in it, but this training teaches us how to deal with the threat if this were to happen and also help as teach the public how to deal with it if it were to happen."

Dressed in full safety gear and armed with weapons loaded with blank rounds, active shooter program students practiced neutralizing the threat of one active shooter. Although the school was vacant of everyone except security forces members, students were tested on controlling an active shooter situation involving children and teachers. Security forces role players tested the students' skills as instructors evaluated the students' reaction to different scenarios.

"Any tactical training to enhance our response capabilities is a positive thing," Sergeant Warrick stressed. "Knowing their SFS Defenders are properly trained and prepared to respond to active shooter situations should give Team McGuire an added sense of security. This training only bolsters our ability to provide the best force protection to our installation. Additionally, there is the added deterrent for those individuals who may contemplate doing this type of event."

Now that the first two classes of active shooter program students have completed this course, 305th SFS personnel will begin seeking more formalized training to fill an emergency services role to fill the time period between when a hostage or high-risk event occurs and when other SWAT agencies (who we have memorandums of understanding with) can arrive to assume response duties, said Sergeant Warrick.

Today, the halls of Challenger School stand empty and still again and the 305th SFS Airmen stand ready to serve and protect should they be called upon.