Features

Realistic active-shooter training preps Airmen

July 20, 2017
Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Nesha Humes
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Staff Sgt. Antonio Lofton, 86th Security Forces Squadron instructor, simulates being an active shooter during an exercise at the 86th Maintenance Group July 12 on Ramstein. Multiple organizations such as command post and security forces are notified prior to the exercise to practice emergency procedures.

A roar of gun shots echoes throughout the crisp hallways and the smell of gunpowder hangs in the air as a masked shooter fires blank ammunition on the hunt for victims.
The 86th Maintenance Group readiness and training cell surprised 86 MXG Airmen with a realistic active shooter exercise July 12 on Ramstein.

Airmen from 86 SFS prepare during an active-shooter readiness training at the 86 MXG July 12 on Ramstein. Approximately 15 key players worked directly with the 86 MXG readiness and training cell to facilitate the exercise and ensure safety.

The readiness training aimed to highlight Airmen’s initial cognitive response by appealing to their senses.
“We want to emphasize critical thought process during an emergency,” said Tech. Sgt. David Sanner, 86 MXG readiness and compliance cell noncommissioned officer in charge. “We want them to use their brains and act accordingly. Hopefully, that would increase the lives saved in that type of scenario.”
Sanner said some critical thought process questions the Airmen should be asking themselves are: Can I escape? Should I evacuate? Do I hear gunfire? Do I smell smoke?
Although the readiness training took most Airmen by surprise, overall they reacted positively by quickly notifying the base defense operation center while barricading themselves into locked rooms for protection.
In addition to practicing contingency response reactions, safety is a priority during readiness trainings and coordination is key to plan exercises.
Multiple organizations such as command post and security forces were notified prior to the exercise to practice emergency procedures.

Tech Sgt. Steve Albavera, 86 SFS noncommissioned officer in charge of training, collects shell casings during an active-shooter readiness training at the 86 MXG July 12 on Ramstein. Airmen from the 86 SFS fired blank ammunition during the readiness training in order to appeal to Airmen’s senses and highlight the importance of using a critical thought process during emergency situations.

“We’re keeping ourselves in check by evaluating ourselves and doing those type of events,” said Sanner. “We can identify areas we need to improve… That’s a healthy habit for an organization.”
Approximately 15 key players worked directly with the 86 MXG readiness and training cell to facilitate the exercise.
“We’re the largest American military community outside of the U.S.,” Sanner said. “We need to be prepared to react to readiness scenarios whether it’s active shooters, aircraft damage, shelter in place, fire drills.”
The 86 MXG readiness and compliance cells have enabled about 20 trainings since January 2016.

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