SFS heightens awareness with active shooter training Published May 31, 2013 By Senior Airman Elizabeth Van Patten 94th Airlift Wing Public Affairs DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- "I see security forces doing their job and training all the time. It makes me feel very secure and safe here," said Wanda Austin, 94th Mission Support Group administrative support assistant. "I was stopped at the gate today about my tinted windows. I also see them around the base and in the building. It reassures me to know the Airmen are doing their job." Austin's sense of security is likely shared by the vast majority of Dobbins Air Reserve Base personnel. She, like many, admitted she was not worried by the thought of someone entering her office and threatening her. To educate the base populous to the possible threat of an active shooter situation, the 94th Security Forces Squadron is conducting a building-by-building training exercise. This series began on Feb. 20 at the Eastern Regional Flight Simulator. Since then, 94th SFS has made their way around to contracting, the 700th Aerial Squadron and the Dobbins Fire Department buildings. The firemen were first given a briefing by Maj. Robert Mayes, 94th SFS operations officer, and Neil Bethune, 94th Airlift Wing antiterrorism officer. Participants were briefed on the three basic options they have when faced with an active shooter: they can run, hide or fight. "We're not going to find the ideal way for you to respond to any given situation," said Mayes. "This exercise is designed to be a primer to get you to think and decide if you would run, hide or fight in an active shooter situation. The real benefit comes from the unit talking about what they can do as a team." Mayes and Bethune emphasized that it is a personal choice on which course of action you should take. However, they offered the following suggestions if faced with an active shooter situation: - Get out if you can, and help others escape but not at your own expense. - Call 678-655-COPS after you are outside and safe. - If you cannot get out and are not committed fighting back, then hide. However, find a secure place to hide behind a locked or barricaded door, preferably. Do not just hide under a desk in an open room. - Once security forces is on-scene, cooperate with them completely. If you appear as a potential threat to responders, you may be subdued as well. - Each shop or unit within a building should have a one-page plan for such a scenario. That plan should be as simple as possible. Following the briefing, the firefighters showed just what they could accomplish by acting as a team. Staff Sgt. William Burke, 94th SFS specialist, acted as the active shooter. Some firemen ran and regrouped outside, some hid and some fought back, according to Burke. He "shot" three participants. He was eventually subdued by a firefighter with a knife. "Hopefully, this type of thing never happens," said Mayes. "We also talk about the insider threat. It could be someone we work with that is having trouble. You have to be aware. Start by being a good wingman." If you have any questions regarding active shooter scenarios, please contact the Maj. Mayes at 678-655-4161 or Bethune at 678-655-5534.
