Airmen evaluated during base active shooter exercise

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Claire Behney | Master Sgt. Ashley Redline, 193rd Special Operations Wing, wing inspection program manager, looks through the window of an office on base to ensure Airmen are following the proper active shooter scenario procedures during the active shooter exercise on base, May 25, 2017. The exercise was conducted as part of base readiness to test wing members’ ability to react properly in the situation of an active shooter. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Claire Behney/Released)  

UNITED STATES

05.25.2017

Story by Tech. Sgt. Claire Behney 

193rd Special Operations Wing

“Lockdown, lockdown, lockdown, there is an active shooter on base!” reverberates from the base’s mass notification system as offices darken and doors close and lock during an active shooter training exercise on base, May 25. The exercise was organized by the 193rd Special Operations Wing’s inspector general office, emergency management office, fire department, safety office, and Security Forces Squadron as part of a required base inspection.

“The objective of this active shooter exercise was to evaluate how wing members initiate the notification of an active shooter as well as how they react,” said Master Sgt. Ashley R. Redline 193rd Special Operations Wing, wing inspection program manager. “A big focus was to see if members have been effectively trained and are familiar with the internal mass notification system. Other areas of evaluation consist of the wing inspection team ensuring members in the exercised buildings were locked down and executed the proper reactive procedures.”

This exercise is a bi-annual requirement for the IG office and they utilize subject matter experts to effectively plan and then execute the exercise. Proper planning is required for an exercise of this caliber because it helps to prepare wing members in the instance of a real-world situation, Redline explained.

“Over all I feel the wing did well and there is always room for more training and familiarization,” said Tech. Sgt. Jordan Sherman, 193rd SOW, Security Forces Squadron, alternate wing anti-terrorism officer.


Sherman explained the exercise allowed the inspection team to identify areas needing improvement but also showcased where Airmen excelled.

“A huge strength I saw today was a lot of teamwork and members not just allowing others to fend for themselves,” Sherman said. “One of the best examples of this I witnessed was Tech. Sgt. (Magdalena) Kelley, in the Logistical Readiness Squadron: When she heard the message (over the mass notification system) she immediately clicked into ‘go mode’ and started yelling for her troops. She echoed the message and yelled to them ‘let's go!’”

• Date Taken: 05.25.2017
• Date Posted: 05.26.2017 12:24
• Story ID: 235469
• Location: US