Active-Shooter exercise coming in January

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Larry Shneck
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  In light of the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, and a Little Rock, Ark., U.S. Army recruiting office last year, the 56th Fighter Wing will practice the ability to correctly respond to an armed attacker in an active-shooter exercise Jan. 13.

The Air Education and Training Command directed each of its bases to practice active-shooter response and lockdown notification procedures.

"We want to see how the base responds to an attack," said Staff Sgt. Janna Kurtzhals, 56th Fighter Wing Inspector General exercise and evaluations team lead. "It's important to test our capability to protect base personnel, residents and retirees."

AETC will begin sending inspectors to review how each base has planned for a potential active-shooter incident. The inspector general office is the organization with primary responsibility to make sure the base is ready to respond.

Units at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., and Columbus AFB, Ohio, have held their active-shooter exercises already. Their lessons learned have helped the 56th FW prepare for its first of two exercises.

"AETC has said the entire base plays in the scenario," Sergeant Kurtzhals said. "The first one will be a one-day exercise with a follow-on two-day exercise later. We'll only get a 60-day notice before the IG team arrives to observe us."

In preparation for the Jan. 13 active-shooter exercise the wing IG encourages everyone to get involved.

Sergeant Kurtzhals stressed they need to get feedback from all levels in the chain of command if a process can be improved or a unit isn't ready.

"We have to take this seriously," she said. "At MacDill (AFB, Fla.) individuals carrying a cache of weapons were stopped at the gate and Luke had a vehicle run the gate earlier this year in an incident that ended in one person losing their life."

Part of the base's response to an active shooter will include working closely with off-base first responders.

Retired Air Force Col. Bob Ditch volunteers his time helping fire and emergency services plan its portion of the exercise. Since retiring after a 32-year career, Colonel Ditch has taught Homeland Security and Disaster Response courses for two state emergency management agencies and is a terrorism instructor for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"Luke is fortunate it doesn't have to reinvent the wheel," he said. "Whether it's an accident or natural disaster it's easier to plan because of the close relationship between the city of Glendale, surrounding communities and the base."

Past attacks with gunmen roaming and shooting at will has shown military authorities can't completely guard against an attack happening, according to Wayne Paddock, Holloman AFB, N.M., exercise evaluation team chief. He stressed the idea is how fast an attack can be stopped and public protected. Holloman held an active-shooter exercise in March.

Retirees may also be affected by the exercise or an armed attacker in a real-life situation. They need to know what to do in the case of an active shooter invading the base.

"We're working with the Retiree Activities Office to let everyone know the exercise is coming Jan. 13," Sergeant Kurtzhals said. "We don't want retirees and community residents to be surprised. Many areas on base could be blocked or traffic disrupted."