Photo By Col. Cindi King | U.S. Soldier Staff Sgt. Ronald Brayboy, 218th Regiment Leadership Battalion, South...... read more read more
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Soldiers in the 218th Regiment Leadership Battalion, South Carolina Army National Guard, participated in a terrorist response training exercise at the McCrady Training Center in Eastover, South Carolina, July 15, 2016.
The exercise included a role-playing active shooter with two fake explosive devices simulating an attack on the Regiment’s schoolhouse building. Although the training event was scheduled weeks ago, the timing of the exercise reemphasized the importance of such drills, as the terrorist attack in Nice, France occurred less than 24 hours earlier.
“With the escalation of attacks, people are on edge,” said Dwight Peters, Operational Security Officer at Fort Jackson, who evaluated the exercise. “The timing was not planned, but I believe everyone took it very seriously today because it is weighing on their minds.”
The active-shooter role player, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ronald Brayboy, a Soldier with the 218th and a correctional officer lieutenant, donned a simulated suicide belt and carried two training aid weapons. As soon as he was ready to begin, an exercise alert message was sent throughout the Regiment headquarters, warning of the event.
Brayboy walked slowly from room to room, attempting to gain access. The 218th Regiment Training non-commissioned officer, U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Cathy Donald, key planner for the exercise, followed behind him taking notes about the response. According to Donald, there were more than 150 students in the building and nearly 100 staff when the simulated attack began.
As Brayboy tried to enter each room, including latrines, closets and the dining hall, he found the doors locked and no one was visible in halls.
“The building looked almost empty. It was hard to believe there were actually hundreds of people inside,” said Brayboy. “If I had been a real gunman on a mission, I would not have been successful.”
Peters also followed behind observing the exercise and noted that overall it went extremely well.
“There were a few noise and light concerns in two rooms, where we could hear people on the other side of the door. Lights indicate that room may be occupied,” said Peters.
At the end of the scenario, Brayboy noted that he only saw two people throughout his walk on multiple halls and floors of the building and he would have only created one casualty in a real-world situation, after one individual opened the door briefly when he knocked.
“It’s important to know that once a terrorist finds a potential target, he will even shoot through a door to achieve his goal,” said Peters.
Some of the improvements Peters suggested to the planners was to ensure all door windows are covered, especially if they provide a view of a long hallway, and to always turn off lights.
The occupants of the facility were also warned in the initial alert message to be on the lookout for two suspicious packages, one was a backpack with wires and a cylinder device attached, the other was a box with a cell phone attached to it. Within 15 minutes, a call came to U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Daniel Cottingham, 218th Reg. sergeant major, from a Soldier reporting the suspicious box in a hallway. After an additional 15 minutes, no one reported the backpack so Donald ended the exercise.
Two Soldiers reportedly saw the backpack in their hall on the floor, but did not think to question it and returned to their offices after the “all clear” order ended the exercise.
“The lesson here is that even though we get focused on our work, we still have to maintain vigilance about our surroundings,” said Donald.
The unit held a thorough after-action meeting following the exercise to discuss what they saw and learned.
“Units conduct response exercises like this and military members understand their importance,” said Peters. “Even though it is not a fun conversation, they need to share this information with their families too about vigilance and being aware of their surroundings.”
Peters added, if something doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t. Military members in public places should know if they are making themselves an easy target. Something as simple as showing pride in military service with bumper stickers on a vehicle can make an individual stand out.
The State Department website, under the travel tab, publishes travel warnings and suggestions for individuals going to other countries. Also, country briefings can be provided by a unit’s intelligence section.
“Attacks are escalating and people need to be aware of what to do and how to minimize themselves as targets, at home and overseas,” said Peters. “Unfortunately, this appears to be the new norm.”
| Date Taken: | 07.15.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.15.2016 15:29 |
| Story ID: | 204117 |
| Location: | EASTOVER, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 199 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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