Active-shooter exercise to assess safety, security measures

Published Feb. 18, 2022
By Caroline Clauson
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

A paramedic from the 788th Civil Engineer Group Fire Department loosely places a tourniquet on the arm of a role-player with a simulated injury during an active shooter exercise, Aug. 18, 2021 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Readiness exercises are routinely held to streamline unit cohesion when responding to emergencies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Wright-Patterson Air Force Base will test and evaluate its response under pressure in a base-wide active-shooter scenario Feb. 23, the first of two such exercises planned on the installation this year.

“Readiness translates to higher mission effectiveness and a safer workplace,” said Wendy Larson, 88th Air Base Wing inspector general. “No one wants to experience an active shooter, workplace violence or a widespread natural disaster. But I’d rather experience any of them with some muscle memory of what I should do.”

The exercise will commence on Area B, triggering lockdown notifications via the “Giant Voice,” phone and other electronic modes. Once the location of the “active shooter” is identified, the lockdown will be lifted in all other areas.

Officials say the exercise will end no later than 3 p.m.

“Often the focus is on the major muscle movements, such as first responders and command and control, but another capability to test is how building occupants respond to an active shooter,” Larson said. “Do they know when to hide or when to run? Do they know the best exit? How do supervisors account for their personnel after the fact?”

Members of the 88th Security Forces Squadron work to clear a building during an active shooter exercise, Aug. 18 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

An 88th Security Forces Squadron Airman secures a building perimeter during an active-shooter exercise Aug. 18 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. First responders are essential to protecting the base, but all personnel must follow specific guidance to stay safe in emergency situations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Wesley Farnsworth)

Each base employee plays a crucial, unique role in real-world incidents, from security forces, fire and medical personnel to Airmen who do not react to emergency situations every day.

“All personnel base-wide should follow the guidance received in their active-shooter training,” said Roxanne Viney, director of exercises at Wright-Patterson AFB. “They should know what to do, and exercising is the best way to test those skills. Wing inspection team members will be scattered across the base observing how personnel react.”

WPAFB officials remind base and community members to avoid the scenario area, if possible, and not call 911 during the exercise. Emergency-response agencies and dispatch centers from nearby communities are aware Wright-Patterson is conducting it.

The base community can also anticipate travel impacts, such as congested gate and roadway traffic and closures, increased security measures and emergency-response vehicles moving around the installation.