Marine Forces Reserve Support Facility conducts active shooter drill

NEW ORLEANS, LA, UNITED STATES

11.17.2017

Story by Lance Cpl. Imari Dubose 

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

There have been more than 500 active shooter incidents in the United States since 2000, including 307 incidents in 2017 alone. The FBI defines an active shooter as an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area.

On Nov. 14, 2017, Marine Corps Support Facility New Orleans conducted two active shooter drills alongside local organizations; including the New Orleans Police Department, Fire Department, Emergency Medical Service team and SWAT team, to train and prepare for a possible active shooter incident.

An active shooter episode is highly impactful and comes with no warning. It requires a rapid and coordinated response from the traditional first responder community as well as facility personnel.

“We want to set up a joint command that will manage this exercise and make sure all these agencies are communicating, so that everybody works together,” said Scott Pickering, a mission assurance representative with Marine Forces Reserve.

The organizations conducted two different scenarios. The first tested the Marine Corps police officers’ ability to clear a room in an efficient and effective manner, and engage the shooter directly. The second scenario was a joint mission where all the organizations were required for individual tasks that contributed to active shooter response efforts.

In the second scenario, the shooter engaged victims and barricaded himself in a room. From there, the Marine Corps police and NOPD were first on the scene to confirm the shooter location. The Fire Department and EMS team created a warm zone to assist victims and safely remove them from the area. Next, the SWAT team positioned themselves and prepared to potentially engage the shooter, while a hostage negotiator worked to verbally diffuse the situation.

The active shooter drills are conducted twice a year, in order to sustain and enhance readiness and knowledge of all parties involved. Active shooter drills are military mandated and they aren’t taken lightly.

“We want to make sure we train to the highest level to ensure the safety of the Marines and citizens on this installation,” said Pickering.

• Date Taken: 11.17.2017
• Date Posted: 11.17.2017 16:55
• Story ID: 255787
• Location: NEW ORLEANS, LA, US