MPs hone active shooter skills in preparation for peace support mission

Photo By Master Sgt. Thomas Duval | U.S. Army Pfc. Colin Clancy, a military policeman assigned to the 527th Military Police Company, 18th MP Brigade, pulls security while his team responds to an active-shooter scenario during a mission training exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 22. Clancy, a Syracuse, N.Y. native, is training at JMRC in preparation for peace support operations in Kosovo. (U.S. Army Photo By: Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval, 40th Public Affairs Detachment)  

HOHENFELS, GERMANY

02.22.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Thomas Duval  

40th Public Affairs Detachment

HOHENFELS, Germany - On a soggy morning in Hohenfels, Germany, the sound of gun fire echoes through a small village as a woman’s scream interrupts a game of chess being played at the local café.

Nestled just a few meters from a tank trail, the building which had once been silent, turns into a site of chaos as the screams intensify.

Not long after the initial shots are heard, a team of U.S. Army Soldiers arrive on scene. Running from their vehicles, the team breaches the home.

“Hands on your head, get down,” shouts the military policemen as they clear room to room.

As they approach a set of stairs leading to the second floor, more shots ring out. Running towards the sound of danger, the police officers rush into the room.

“Bang! Bang,” shouts Spc. Brody Tobin, as he points his empty pistol at the perpetrator.

On a normal day, an empty weapon and shouting "bang, bang" may not be enough to stop an actual threat, but today is not one of those days for these Soldiers.

For Tobin and his team of military police from the 527th Military Police Company the exercise was one of many active-shooter scenarios executed by the unit as part of a situational training exercise held at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 20-23.

“The past has shown us that there are always people who want to cause harm and mass chaos,” Tobin said. “As MPs we are here to prevent that from happening but if we cannot prevent it then we need to stop it as quick as possible. To do that we have to continue to practice.”

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Kimberly Stiles, a platoon leader with the 527th MP Company, echoed Tobin’s sentiment towards the importance of active shooter training and described how the training could be the difference between life and death.

“With recent threats and the different force protection changes we want to make sure our Soldiers are spun up on active shooter scenarios and to make sure we can enter a building together as a team and work fluidly to minimize civilian casualties while eliminating any threats,” said Stiles.

Coming together as a team isn’t the only necessary ingredient for mission success. Stiles and her Soldiers also focus on honing their warrior tasks and drills.

“From the first day until now we have seen our Soldier’s skills jump leaps and bounds and I would take them anywhere with me,” Stiles added.

Stiles will get a chance to take her team with her sooner rather than later as she prepares to deploy to Kosovo this month.

While deployed, Stiles says the team will primarily serve as law enforcement for Kosovo Force 21 at Camp Bondsteel and will help provide a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for the people of Kosovo.

Although the 527th MP Company will serve as supporters of peace, Stiles and Tobin understand they must be trained and ready for all possible scenarios.

• Date Taken: 02.22.2016
• Date Posted: 02.23.2016 06:41
• Story ID: 189746
• Location: HOHENFELS, DE