Practice, plan makes perfect in active shooter exercise

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Stephen Hickey and Maj. Brandon Roth
  • 56th Fighter Wing Inspector General
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  You're waiting to talk with a TRICARE specialist on the third floor of the Medical Group building. Suddenly, you hear muffled shots ring out and screaming. What do you do? What will the base do?

To answer this question, the 56th Fighter Wing will conduct an AETC-directed active-shooter exercise Wednesday and Thursday to test whether military and civilian personnel understand what to do if this real-world scenario ever happens. The base's coordinated emergency response and recovery game plans will also be tested.

The active-shooter response plan at Luke Air Force Base consists of three main phases: immediate actions, installation response and installation recovery.

1. Immediate actions phase: "Lockdown"
Emphasis in this phase is on notifying the base, getting people to safety, and neutralizing the shooter. The base is locked down to clear the area of potential targets and ensure innocents are not harmed when law enforcement targets the shooter. Individuals who see or hear shots should evacuate the area if they can, hide in a locked/barricaded room, or fight if no other option exists. When safe to do so, call 911 or use LMRs to alert the base of an Active Shooter. Upon LOCKDOWN notification, buildings will be locked and the base made to appear deserted so as to prevent targeting by the shooter -- do not expect to get in buildings. Be aware it may take several minutes before police will be able to respond.

2. Installation response phase: "Lockdown terminated, STAY PUT, key personnel respond"
Terminating LOCKDOWN means the base is responding to the still-desperate situation. First responders, command/control personnel and off-base responders will still be moving. It is imperative all other personnel stay put to avoid being a hindrance to these efforts. All units should begin to up-channel information such as the number of dead, injured, or missing, as well as the names of anyone who witnessed the shooting. If the shooting happened in your area, conduct SABC on the wounded, but otherwise do not disturb the crime scene area -- do not clean up, do not touch bodies, do not move shell casings -- stay away from the scene. Be vigilant for other threats and be patient as leadership understands the scope of the problem and decides when it is prudent to release personnel.

Installation recovery phase: "All clear, FPCON (TBD)"
The "ALL CLEAR" signal means the base is ready to transition back to normal operations. Your commander will release you, but be aware you may be kept in place if releasing you may jeopardize the crime scene, there are augmentee requirements that need to be filled, you are a witness that needs to be interviewed, or you are experiencing post-traumatic shock from the shooting. The base will broadcast information about the shooting to the media in a purposely deliberate fashion. This is to ensure accuracy of information and give time for next of kin notifications. Base personnel should refer questions to public affairs and should refrain from discussing, speculating, or otherwise broadcasting details of the incident to friends, family, or via social media.