177th SFS hosts Active Shooter Training

Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Matthew Hecht | U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Seth Tucker, right, takes off protective gear at the end of a scenario during active shooter training at Atlantic Cape Community College in Mays Landing, N.J., Sept. 24, 2014. New Jersey Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, and local law enforcement officers were taught Active Shooter Level I training by an Air Force Reserve mobile training team from the 610th Security Forces Squadron, which is based out of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. The scenarios were designed to be realistic, and to put the participants under stress. Tucker is a Gunner's Mate assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released)  

MAYS LANDING, NJ, UNITED STATES

09.24.2014

Story by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Hecht 

177th Fighter Wing - NJ Air National Guard

MAYS LANDING, N.J. - The New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Security Forces Squadron played host to a mobile training team from the Air Force Reserve’s 610th Security Forces Squadron this week at Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, New Jersey. The team of instructors from the 610th SFS, stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, taught Active Shooter Level I training to a mix of Air National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, and civilian law enforcement officers.

“An active shooter call is the worst call possible,” said lead instructor Master Sgt. Bruce Harris.

“Our course aims to aid first responders to effectively isolate, distract and neutralize an active shooter,” continued Harris. “Our goal is to save as many lives as we can.”

The mobile training team taught two courses this week, each two days in length. The first day was classroom training on base, and the second day was practical training at Atlantic Cape Community College, in Mays Landing, New Jersey, where an empty building was used for tactical movements.

Tech. Sgt. James Armstrong, from the 177th SFS training office, not only helped to arrange the class, but participated as well.

“While we do our own training program here at the 177th, it is great to see what other agencies do, how they train, prepare and respond,” said Armstrong. “Working with other agencies gives us an opportunity to network and to exchange ideas with other military and law enforcement agencies. This is necessary because of the very dynamic, fluid nature of those we are trained to oppose in situations such as this. The tactics used by suspects are always changing, therefore our training must be designed to change and adapt to the enemy.”

During the practical phase of the course, students were armed with Simunition rounds and protective gear, and participated in realistic active shooter scenarios.

“I found this training extremely helpful, useful, and realistic,” said Staff Sgt. Stardust Santiago, a 177th SFS Airman who participated in the course. “This class should be mandatory for all first responders, period. The instructors were amazing, knowledgeable, and gave fantastic feedback. This is the best training experience I’ve had in my military and civilian law enforcement career to date.”

“City, state, and federal law officers, they’re all here to do what they signed up for, to protect their communities,” said Harris.

• Date Taken: 09.24.2014
• Date Posted: 09.25.2014 12:13
• Story ID: 143259
• Location: MAYS LANDING, NJ, US