Shots Fired: MNBG-E MPs react to simulated active shooter

Photo By Maj. Edward Alvarado | Spc. James Mason Jr., center, along with Pfc. Jacob Smith, respond to a simulated active shooter at the dining facility at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, Aug. 23. The patrol team eliminated the shooting threat, assessed casualties during the training event and helped facilitate the on-scene coordination of other first response organizations. (U.S. Army photos by Capt. Ed Alvarado, 19th Public Affairs Detachment)  

CAMP BONDSTEEL, KOSOVO

08.23.2018

Story by Capt. Edward Alvarado 

KFOR Regional Command East

CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – What started as a typical morning for Soldiers of Multi-National Battle Group – East quickly changed to a scene of confusion and panic as the sounds of gunfire echoed inside the dining facility at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, Aug. 23.

Though the active-shooter scenario was simulated, the unannounced event displayed the importance of realistic training for bystanders and first responders from the 977th Military Police Company, 97th Military Police Battalion, from Fort Riley, Kansas, and organizations at Camp Bondsteel.

“The exercise on Camp Bondsteel is testing the response capabilities of emergency responders and subordinate units to an active shooter,” said 1st Lt. Anthony Sinagoga, commander of the MP Detachment and MNBG-E Deputy Provost Marshal. “The exercise has two major components – eliminate an active shooter while protecting those in harm’s way to test how fast emergency responders can assist and provide care to those injured in an attempt to preserve life.”

The usage of blanks and simunition rounds during the exercise added to the realism of the training, said Sinagoga.

“Using simunition rounds creates a more realistic exercise, it allows my MP patrols to test the tactics, techniques and procedures they have for responding to a shooting incident and allows me to evaluate how they apply the training,” said Sinagoga, a native of Imperial, Pennsylvania. “The more realistic a training event can be, the more serious Soldiers will take it and prepares them if it becomes a real-world event one day.”

The training also demonstrated the importance of coordination with the many first-response organizations on Camp Bondsteel.

“The importance of working with other entities on Camp Bondsteel is crucial to making this exercise beneficial,” said Sinagoga. “Active shooters not only involve military police, it involves medical units, our force protection contracting company, fire/emergency medical services and even explosive ordnance disposal. The scenario allows every unit to evaluate their part in the exercise.”

Another important aspect of the training was the fact that the Soldiers had no prior knowledge that the exercise was being conducted.

“The response is genuine,” said Sgt. 1st Class Shawn Taylor, the MNBG-E provost sergeant. “It forces the Soldier to create a hasty plan on the go and doesn’t allow them to predict their response and actions prior to the start of the event.”

Prior to the deployment, the platoon conducted active shooter training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Taylor said, which helped the responders during the exercise.

“Prior to doing this exercise, I had hours and days of training, so this was muscle memory for me,” said Spc. James Mason, one of two military policemen who responded to the active shooter. “However, it’s always good to train and to bring people to reality because these types of situations do occur.”

The active shooter scenario is one of many monthly force protection exercises that have been performed at Camp Bondsteel, such as mass casualty and suspicious package scenarios, among others.

• Date Taken: 08.23.2018
• Date Posted: 08.24.2018 08:28
• Story ID: 290131
• Location: CAMP BONDSTEEL, ZZ