Shooter, sirens prep Minot Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Thomas Dow
  • 5th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFNS) --  Minot Air Force Base Airmen responded to a mock attack during a massive accident response exercise at the McAdoo Sports and Fitness Center March 26 here.

More than 50 evaluators and exercise planners, including officials from local and state emergency management staffs, the FBI, Minot Police Department and Trinity Hospital, as well as more than 50 volunteers came together to create a realistic simulation of an attack by an active shooter assault at the base fitness center.

The exercise consisted of teams of security forces whose mission was to neutralize a gunman in the fitness center, rescue those trapped in the facility and secure the scene, said P.J. Pallotta, a 5th Bomb Wing antiterrorism officer. Follow-on emergency responders, to include fire and medical forces, then dealt with multiple casualties as a result of the shootings and from a low-grade dirty bomb that had been detonated by the gunman.

"Simultaneously, the rest of the base went into lockdown and all major control centers were activated," he said. "Even our elementary schools on base practiced lockdown procedures. It was a very plausible scenario."

All these activities were done under the watchful eyes of exercise evaluation teams. These base evaluators watched to see how responders reacted to different situations.

"The main objectives we evaluated were how the base gets initial notification out, responds to the threat, and finally recovers to resume operations," said Maj. John D. Walsh, the 5th Bomb Wing conventional inspections chief.

Major Walsh said while Airmen do not have control over the kinds of disasters they encounter, they do have control over how they react when put in dangerous situations.

"This training is key," the major said. "It can literally make the difference between life and death."

The importance of such exercise training wasn't lost on Tech. Sgt. Kerry Koepp, a Minot AFB antiterrorism officer.

"This exercise was a great training tool for all entities, but especially important to security forces," Sergeant Koepp said. "Initial responding security forces were faced with mass panic, personnel fleeing the scene and chaos inside the facility, all with minimal information at their disposal. Trying to gather information, secure a scene, and be ready to accept follow-on emergency responders, all in a short time, is a monumental task. From an antiterrorism perspective, it was a terrific opportunity for all base personnel to practice their force protection Condition Delta and sheltering-in-place actions. There's no doubt that a quick and effective response by the base populace will save lives."

With so many moving parts in motion during a crisis situation, communication between 5th BW and 91st Missile Wing responders was vital to ensuring the right thing happens at all times.

"It is important that our leadership and emergency responders practice the teamwork and communication needed for such an incident," said Timothy Allen, a 91st MW antiterrorism officer. "When you're in a high stress situation like this, your actions will inevitably fall back to your training."

To provide added realism, some Airmen arrived at the base hospital at 5:30 a.m. to be moulage victims. The Airmen volunteered to assist exercise planners by portraying panicked, injured and even dead victims. Some stayed in the main cardio room acting as victims of the dirty bomb while others simply sprawled on the gymnasium floor covered in fake blood and realistic injuries as a result of the mass shooting.

Minot AFB Airmen performed their tasks with precision and unfailing resolve, said Col. Julian Tolbert, the 5th BW vice commander. Had the situation been real, the base would have been ready.

"The Airmen who participated in today's exercise showed focus and a willingness to overcome the many obstacles seen with such a scenario," he said. "It's unfortunate we must train for days like today, but I feel confident knowing the base has skilled professionals ready to react to any situation."