Joint training exercise strengthens AF, civilian partnerships

  • Published
  • By Rhonda Siciliano
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. (AFNS) --  Law enforcement officials from Lexington, Mass., teamed up with 66th Security Forces Squadron personnel here March 16 for a joint training exercise conducted by members of the Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations team, otherwise known as STOP.

The training combined classroom instruction with hands on field training exercises that included the use of Simunitions to add to the realistic nature of the scenarios.

State Police personnel guided participants through what was deemed the "crawl" phase of the exercise, using vacant houses in the Hanscom Air Force Base housing area as training props to provide step-by-step response protocols to a number of situations that could be encountered by patrolmen including conducting searches, responding to a breaking and entering in progress and domestic situations.

Trainees were divided into four groups with each group guided by a STOP team member who offered techniques and tips as they walked through each scenario pausing along the way for questions and discussions on the best approach to a situation.

"This training is critical because it brings us together with our civilian counterparts in a training environment where we can practice our coordinated responses to a number of situations that we could find ourselves having to respond to together in a real world situation," said Master Sgt. Jamell Jenkins of the 66th SFS. "It builds relationships and familiarizes us with what each agency can offer to a particular situation."

Trooper Michael Fitzgerald, a 13-year veteran with the Massachusetts State Police and one of the main facilitators for the exercise, has seen the benefits that this training provides. He's traveled around the state providing patrol procedures training to local police departments. 

"I think it's valuable for the Air Force to have an understanding of Commonwealth law enforcement techniques," Mr. Fitzgerald said. "There are a lot of agencies out there that can be called upon to assist in an emergency, and whenever you can bring those agencies together in this type of training environment the results are immeasurable."

For Sgt. Aidan Evelyn, a patrolman with the Lexington Police Department, the training was a great opportunity to "put faces to names" of his Air Force counterparts.

"This training really helps improve the working relationships that we have and build valuable skills for all of us," he said.

With a successful first round of training under their belts, the law enforcement agencies are already planning for the next training exercise expected to take place in three to four months that will focus on responding to an "active shooter" situation.

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