Photo By Spc. Brianna Saville | Master Sgt. John Zywicki, a telecommunications operations chief with the 416th Theater...... read more read more
DARIEN, Ill. – The 416th Theater Engineer Command conducted Active Shooter Training this weekend. Active shootings are becoming more and more common. This is a sad reality that we have to face and properly prepare ourselves.
Being military, some people may think that we are automatically trained for these types of situation. Right? Wrong! This is a different ballpark. We’re in our own backyard. It makes a difference. The point was stressed that we have to be prepared for the shooter to look just like us. Maybe even in uniform.
The briefing was conducted in a joint effort by Michael Culloton, FBI special agent and a former military police officer; Lt. Col. Tim Tyler of the 416th TEC, chief financial officer and an Illinois state trooper; and Sgt. Eric Urbanski of the 416th TEC, chemical biological radiological nuclear noncommissioned officer and a deportation officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Interestingly, Culloton was, at one point, Tyler’s company commander when Tyler was a 2nd Lieutenant. Today’s reunion was a shock to both of them but that did not stop them from joining forces to give the most effective training possible, to the soldiers of the 416th.
“It’s important training to get out to the first responders and anyone that could potentially be in this situation. It’s very important for all of us to be able to address this issue nowadays,” said Culloton.
There are three immediate steps that were stressed throughout the training. The steps are different ways to protect oneself during an active shooter situation. Run-Hide-Fight!
RUN
First and foremost, run. If you can get out of harm’s way, do so and act quietly and swiftly. Help encourage others to move with you, but don’t let them slow you down.
HIDE
If you don’t have access to an immediate exit, hide. Barricade yourself if you can. Form a completely enclosed barrier that will protect you from the shooter and the shooter’s weapon. Silence your phone, and stay as quiet as you can until you are given a signal that everything is all clear.
FIGHT
If you can’t find an exit or there is nowhere for you to take cover, fight. Do everything you can to protect yourself and those around you. The shooter has already threatened your well being, by putting you in this situation. Don’t be afraid to threaten theirs.
In addition to those three points, soldiers were taught a few more tactical hands-on approaches to help the situation. Soldiers learned to stop whatever they are doing when law enforcement arrives on scene. Keep their hands visible and clear at all times, identify themselves and follow any command given.
With the joint effort of the instructors, soldiers of the 416th TEC were provided with very effective Active Shooter Training. “It really impacts the day to day operations here. It’s kind of like bad weather, you can’t really predict it but you have to stay prepared for it,” said Spc. Michael J. Smith of the 416th Theater Engineer Command.
Soldiers have to always be prepared for any situation. They can’t be stuck in the mindset that something like this will never happen to them. Soldiers of the TEC must prepare like they know it will happen to them.
Story by Spc. Brianna Saville.
| Date Taken: | 08.06.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.08.2016 18:16 |
| Story ID: | 206451 |
| Location: | DARIEN, IL, US |
| Web Views: | 71 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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