Wolf Pack learns to survive, evade active shooter

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Patrice Clarke
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --  It is 2:15 p.m., you are at your desk or in your work center going about your day. Then you hear it ... a pop, pop, pop ... a sound that you instinctively know is small arms fire, someone is shooting and very close by. Would you know what to do? Do you know how to react? Do you even know where your closest phone is, your closest exit?

These were the questions posed during the active shooter victim's training held here March 2.

The training is a new initiative sent down from the Department of Defense in response to the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas in November 2009.

"The number one lesson learned from the incident at Fort Hood was that the non-first responders present during the shooting didn't really know how to respond to what was going on," said Master Sgt. Steven Doll, 8th Security Forces Squadron NCOIC of training.

The basis for this training was to educate individuals on what actions to take during an active shooter incident.

"Knowing these simple actions could be the difference between saving your life and death, or saving the lives of the people around you. You need to know right away whether to stay or to go," said Sergeant Doll.

The training materials, sent from the Department of Homeland Security, teaches individuals to quickly decide to take one of three actions: evacuate, hide out or take action. When evacuating, remember to have an escape route plan in mind, stay calm, leave your belongings behind and keep hands high and visible. If the decision to hide out is made, hide out in an area out of the active shooters view, stay away from doors, walls and windows, and block entry to your hiding place and lock doors. As a last resort, there is the option to take action.

"Let me stress that take action is the ultimate last resort," said Sergeant Doll. "Only if your life is in imminent danger do you do this."

When taking action, individuals should attempt to incapacitate the shooter and to act with physical aggression, throwing items at the shooter.

Col. Patrick Clements, 8th Mission Support Group commander, was present at the training and had a few words for the Airmen attending.

"When I was going through school we had fire drills and tornado drills and that's what we had to worry about," he said. "Now after the incident at Columbine and the ones following it my children go through bomb drills and active school shooter drills. Times are changing and we have to be prepared for them."

Colonel Clements also reiterated the history, showing the common thread throughout all the recent shooter incidents.

"The one thing we learned from all the active shooter incidents in the past is prevention," he said. "We know now that there were signs that leadership could have seen. You as Air Force leaders can help prevent incidents like this from happening. Take care of your people. Notice the signs and recommend them for help if it's needed. Be there for your folks."

Posters with the quick action information will soon be posted throughout many high traffic areas on base. If anyone has questions regarding the training contact Sergeant Doll at 782-2184.

"We have to be able to plan for the worst ... train for the worst," said Sergeant Doll. "We saw that the victims of previous shootings didn't know whether to run or hide, attack or not. Hopefully with this training we are better prepared in case an incident of this nature happens here."