Security forces Airmen, Sailors learn new active shooter techniques

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Lockoski
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR FORCE BASE, Japan (AFNS) --  Air Force requirements for improved active-shooter training allowed security forces Airmen and Sailors to attend the Pacific Air Forces command's High Risk Response Training program here July 19 through 23.

The PACAF HRRT program, taught throughout the MAJCOM's nine bases, helps base security members use special tactics and training to prepare for dangerous and unpredictable situations involving a hostile shooter.

"The training is flexible for everybody to learn, and is a train-the-trainer course," said Tech. Sgt. Ronnie Aldana, the 35th Security Forces Squadron security manager and trainer from Misawa Air Base, Japan. "Now, we can train all our folks in the squadron, all the way down to the lowest-ranking Airman."

The training is to all security forces servicemembers and meets a new Department of Defense requirement tasking each service to revitalize its programs by September.

The course gives Airmen and Sailors interactive academics in class and hands-on, newly developed techniques grounded in contemporary special weapons and tactics training, said John Knipe, a course instructor with Analytical Services Inc.

Analytical Services Inc. officials spent three months researching current military active shooter and HRRT techniques and traveled to large U.S. cities gathering the best civilian law enforcement tactics for PACAF's course.

"Ultimately, if there was an armed gunman in the commissary, base exchange or in one of the schools on base (security members) will go in there, stop that action and eliminate that active shooter," he added.

Instead of using a basic containment method, these new approaches are more aggressive and offensive, Mr. Knipe said. They challenge Airmen to make conscious decisions to assess and take immediate individual action or use a four-man team to take on the shooter.

The difference between using previously taught methods and applying the new tactics can ultimately determine the number of lives saved and lessen lives lost, Mr. Knipe said.

Valuable time can be wasted waiting for backup to arrive and is generally when the victims are killed, Mr. Knipe said. The ones who are going to be the first on the scene are the ones that have to react first and know what's going on.

Sergeant Aldana, who has been taught several methods of response during his 15 year security forces career, said the new training gives him a different mindset going forward.

"The trainers have been interactive in answering a lot of harder questions from the junior Airmen who haven't seen both ends of the training program and question what they have been taught either in basic training or tech school," Sergeant Aldana said. "(The instructors) expand on more than just the knowledge, but the practical application of why we are doing this.

"A patrol can't be at the same location of the incident at the same time, so it might be the lowest ranking Airman who is on scene first," Sergeant Aldana said. "Instead of waiting for an NCO to direct him where to go, he could eliminate the threat and save lives."

One security forces member who could be the first to an active shooter scene may be Senior Airman Rolland Gould, a 35th SFS patrolman, who participated in the course.

He said many tactics previously learned are habitual, but he is turning them into the quick responsive training.

"If a situation were to arise, we'd be prepared for it," Airman Rolland said.

With the graduation of the first class of trained students, 35th SFS officials hope to begin teaching PACAF's course to its members in August.