Installation-wide Active Shooter exercise slated for next Wednesday

  • Published
  • By Will Huntington
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – In a base-wide exercise Aug. 18, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will go into full lockdown in response to an active-shooter scenario.

“At 9 a.m. that morning, officials will initiate an active-shooter exercise in the Kittyhawk portion of Area A at building 1235,” said Garth Freund, 88th Air Base Wing exercise planner. However, personnel across the installation will play a role in the drill.

“Wright-Patt Security Forces, Fire Department and Medical will respond,” he added.

Everyone on the installation should take immediate action, and treat the mock scenario as a real-world occurrence.

Those in immediate proximity to the “active shooter” should follow the “run, hide and, as a last resort, fight” response model. Freund said. Meanwhile, personnel and residents of both Areas A and B should go into lockdown mode or find a place of concealment and remain until the all-clear signal is given.

“Active-shooter incidents can happen very quickly,” Freund said. “Exercises and being prepared to take appropriate actions can save lives.”

The Installation Command Center will issue notifications via “Giant Voice” and other communication modes that the entire installation is being locked down. 

Base officials remind individuals to not call 911 during the exercise. Emergency response agencies and dispatch centers from nearby communities, who would also respond during a real-world Active Shooter, have been notified about the active-shooter exercise.

“This is an exercise, a training event,” Freund said. “We don’t want off-base police or fire to respond to the base.”

Wing inspection team members will evaluate exercise response throughout the entire installation. They will be marked with badges and vests.

The response phase goes from 9 to around 10:30 a.m. While much of the base will be done with the exercise at that time, activities will continue at the scene.

“Afterward it turns into a recovery operation,” Freund said. “The rest of the installation will go back to normal operations. Only Building 1235 will be affected by the recovery part of it.”

Organizations working directly in “recovery” operations, such as the Emergency Operations Center, will be among those involved, he added.

Building 1235 is in close proximity to the Kittyhawk Express shoppette and along a route used by many to access the commissary and the Base Exchange. Drivers in the area are reminded to be observant, exercise caution, follow all traffic-control signs or directions and be prepared to detour as instructed.

“We are not trying to surprise anybody,” Freund said of ensuring all are aware of the exercise.

Planners say active-shooter training should be reviewed in advance to ensure personnel know exactly what steps they should take if a real-world event occurs. Work centers near Building 1235 should also review continuity of operations plans, in case there is a need to operate from an alternate location.

Other potential exercise impacts include:

- Gate traffic could be backed up or rerouted to other entry-control points if a gate is closed.

- Emergency-response vehicles will be moving around the base.

- Travel congestion. 

- Some roadways may be temporarily blocked.

- Increased security measures.

- “Giant Voice” activation.

- Use of telephone and electronic notification methods.

- Alert sirens.

Surrounding communities may hear the sirens or Giant Voice and are advised that it is part of the training exercise, unless otherwise notified.