By Master Sgt. Lindsay Buck, 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support)
SALT LAKE CITY – During a combined training exercise held at Fort Douglas, three service members posing as active shooters entered multiple buildings in an attempt to test the Soldiers’ and civilians’ responses. They caused more than 30 simulated casualties in just 10 minutes using .22-caliber starter pistols containing blank ammunition, which looks and sounds like a real bullet when fired but does not have a projectile.
The exercise was a combined effort prepared by the 76th Operational Support Command, the 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support), and the University of Utah Police Department. The purpose of the exercise was to test University police and Fort Douglas personnel on skills learned during a fort-wide active shooter training held last May.
“It’s important because it’s something that is escalating throughout the nation,” said Detective John W. Thompson, sergeant in charge of investigations at the UUPD. “You see all the time that people are involved in shootings that are happening, and it has become something that is not as rare as it used to be.”
The exercise began with shooters entering numerous buildings located on post. As they entered buildings the announcement, “Exercise, exercise, exercise. Active shooter, location unknown,” was broadcasted over loud speakers.
“We know of thefts, insider threats and other unauthorized access by outsiders in our Reserve Centers. We hear about the shootings at Fort Hood and in National Guard Centers in Tennessee. We even had a local active shooting event here in Trolley Square in downtown Salt Lake City in 2007. It’s not a question of if, it’s a question of when,” said Jeffrey Black, 807th MCDS representative of the Fort Douglas Provost Marshal Office.
According to the training, all personnel should do one of three things upon hearing this announcement: Run, hide, or fight. This means that you get out of the building if you can and you know where the shooter is; if you do not know where the shooter is, you lock or barricade the door, turn off the lights, hunker down, and remain quiet until the police come and get you; or if the shooter comes into your room, you fight.
Upon entering the buildings, the shooters found some offices secured but others were not. When they found unsecured personnel, they shot them using the blank ammunition.
David Lecaros, a unit administration technician assigned to the 807th stated, “I heard the announcement and then the shots. It took me a couple of seconds to process what was going on. I stood up to barricade the door, but the shooter shot me before I could. I was surprised by how fast they got to me.”
One of the shooters, Master Sgt. Kenneth R. Hiler, said, “I found some doors closed but when I pushed against them they opened easily. I shot the people inside.”
Staff Sgt. Merrill Bryner, another shooter, said, “I tried one of the doors and found it locked but I could hear someone on the other side. I knocked and she opened her door. I shot her and moved on.”
The exercise ended with the response of the police department’s team. They arrived only three minutes after the first call. They quickly analyzed the situation and reacted. Some of the casualties told them the shooters had moved to building 103. They entered the building and started clearing the rooms along the hallway.
After just a couple of seconds, they heard shots from upstairs. The team immediately changed their tactics and headed quickly up the stairs only briefly checking the rooms as they passed them.
“Get your hands up,” yelled one of the officers as a shooter lunged out at them.
When the smoke cleared, one officer was down and the shooter was dead or at least that is what would have happened if they hadn’t used blanks.
“One shooter down,” said an officer as the rest of the team secured the area.
By arrangement, the exercise ended once the police quickly located and neutralized one of the shooters.
After the exercise concluded, participants gathered and discussed how they will respond in the future.
Sgt. 1st Class Herbert Phinney, an operations noncommissioned officer with the 807th, stated, “I knew it was an exercise, but seeing the gunman come around the corner of my cubicle and the muzzle flash raised my heart rate and added a sense of realism.”
“The Army Reserve’s Soldiers and civilian workers are our greatest asset—one that can’t be replaced,” said Maj. Gen. Daniel L. York, commander of the 76th Operational Response Command. “The training received today may very well save a life should they be tragically involved in a shooting incident.”
| Date Taken: | 07.15.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2014 19:04 |
| Story ID: | 144308 |
| Location: | FORT DOUGLAS, UT, US |
| Web Views: | 41 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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