Base responds to active shooter exercise

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jacob Corbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  BLAZE Team and area first responders took part in an exercise Oct. 5 and 6 to hone the base's ability to react, respond and recover.

The two-day exercise went beyond just testing the abilities of first responders, it tested the 14th Flying Training Wing's ability to deal with the threat and aftermath of an active shooter on Columbus AFB. The exercise stressed all functions on the base, to include services, man power, processes and command and control.

Lt. Col. Arthur Dunn, 14th FTW Exercise Evaluation Team chief, said this exercise differed from similar ones in the past in that it avoided the use of simulations or tabletop response elements - almost everything was acted out like it would be in a real-world event.

"The exercise was a good learning tool," Colonel Dunn said. "A lot of the areas we would normally tabletop or simulate were shown to be areas we need to work on."

Colonel Dunn said overall, the exercise and the bases response to it went well. In addition, Air Education and Training Command took part in the exercise, including standing up the AETC Crisis Action Team at Randolph AFB, Texas, and having AETC observers on Columbus AFB during the exercise.

"The base is learning a lot (from the exercises), the command is learning a lot," Colonel Dunn said.

In addition to AETC taking part in the exercise, regional emergency responders also took part in the event, including medivac helicopters, ambulances and other emergency responders.

"We're a small base," Colonel Dunn said, "we have limited capabilities. If we had a real-world incident, we would need the communities help in responding."

Colonel Dunn said life-like and in-depth exercises like last week's are important because they give the base a chance to practice and learn.

"If we don't practice, we'll have trouble in the event of a real-world event," he said.

Col. George Ross, 14th FTW vice commander said, "an exercise of this magnitude took tremendous support to coordinate, script, execute and evaluate."

Colonel Dunn thanked the base for the outstanding support the exercise program received over the past few weeks, helping to make the exercise realistic and well-done.

"We will recognize the superior performers at an upcoming wing staff meeting," Colonel Ross said. "Some of these include the role plays who kept everyone's sense of urgency and provided realism throughout the exercise, our Defenders' containment and reaction, the Fire Department and medics for their initial response and coordination with off base responders plus Lieutenant Colonel Dunn."

In addition he pointed out nearly the whole 14th Force Support Squadron was heavily tasked with day two of the exercise. Colonel Ross said our casualty affairs folks performed admirably.

Lastly Colonel Ross passed along his thanks to the whole base for their participation and patience during the exercise.

"The whole BLAZE Team to include folks in the Commissary and BX learned a lot on how to handle an active shooter incident."