Takedown: Fight over Flght training prepares military policemen for active shooter scenarios

Photo By Terrance Bell | Spc. Michael Bobovnyk, 217th Military Police Detachment, takes a playful jab at his counterpart during Fight Over Flight training Aug. 18 at the Army Logistics Unversity. Bobovnyk was one of 25 law enforcement officers who participated in the training designed to teach defensive techniques.  

UNITED STATES

08.25.2016

Story by Terrance Bell  

Fort Gregg-Adams

FORT LEE, Va. (Aug. 25, 2016) -- Members of Fort Lee’s law enforcement community attended two days of training Aug. 17-18 to help prepare them for various emergency situations.

Military members assigned to the 217th Military Police Detachment and Department of the Army Civilian Police learned combative tactics, weapons techniques, room-clearing procedures and other subject matter during a “Fight Over Flight” exercise.

Capt. Brian Bishop, operations officer, Provost Marshal Office, said the training was designed to “teach police officers on Fort Lee how to defend against threats in addition to being more comfortable with their law enforcement equipment, their abilities as police officers and with their weapon systems.”

During both days of the event, the training was split between morning and afternoon sessions at the Army Logistics University fitness facility and training areas within the installation range complex, respectively. Roughly 25 MPs and DACP officers participated in the training.

Sensei Vincent Marchetti, a 78-year-old former Soldier, taught the combatives portion that took place at ALU. He was emphatic about teaching basic but effective techniques.

“My approach was to teach them something that was useable, with one-step applications to put people down, temporarily or permanently, whatever is necessary at the time,” said the martial arts grandmaster. “I teach them to use their hands rather than a club. Your hands are with you. They’re quicker, more responsive and you have more control.”

Marchetti’s instruction included grappling and handcuffing techniques.

At the ranges, the participants learned what to do during weapons malfunctions as well as techniques and tactics for door-breaching, room-clearing, casualty care, movement to threat and extraction methods. DACP Officer Keith Miller, a participant and a part of the training coordination team, said the training agenda was based on law enforcement responses for mass shootings and similar incidents.

“The purpose was to take a basic MP, give him more information and put more tools in his toolbox to create a better MP in the event of an active shooter,” he said.

Active shooter events are those with one or more perpetrators who kill or injure three or more people. In 2014-15, the FBI recorded 40 such events that resulted in the deaths of 92 people and the injuries of 139. Since then, various training efforts have taken root all over the country as measures of response.

Although it is conducted on an annual basis, Miller said many of the participants had not received the training because they were new to the installation.

“It gives them the foundation and fundamentals to seek further education,” he said.

In addition to Marchetti, the instructors included Brian Agone, Jason Bennett, Jeff Graff and Dale Williams. Graf, also a former Soldier, is a CSX police officer with an extensive background in police tactics.

• Date Taken: 08.25.2016
• Date Posted: 08.25.2016 11:56
• Story ID: 208143
• Location: US