Active shooter on base: how would you respond?

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. DeAndra Vertrees
  • 17th Security Forces Squadron
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  With a loaded pump shotgun in hand, the lone Airman roamed the dormitories. Those who saw him either hurried on their way or just minded their own business. None of them took the situation seriously or bothered to call security forces.

It may be a shock to some, but the incident was real and occurred recently at Sheppard Air Force Base. Thanks to the quick reaction of security forces members and base agencies, the incident was averted without injuries.

Those of us who remember the Columbine High School shooting near Denver, Colo., 10 years ago, can recall that the first officers on the scene had never trained for what they encountered on April 20, 1999. No hostages, no demands, just shooting to kill.

In the hours that followed, the nation watched in horror as the standard procedure for dealing with shooting rampages in the United States proved tragically and heartbreakingly flawed.

Two officers initially exchanged fire with one of the teenage gunmen just outside the school door, then stopped suddenly to wait for a Special Weapons and Tactics team, as they had been trained to do. During the 45 minutes it took for the SWAT team to assemble and assault, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 10 of the 13 people who would die that day.

Autopsy reports account that the killers committed suicide around the time the makeshift SWAT team finally advanced. It took officers several hours to secure the scene as they moved methodically from room to room. As they did this, one of the wounded slowly bled to death.

In the 10 years since Columbine, the way the situation is handled has transformed, as evident in two recent Active Shooter incidents such as Virginia Tech in 2007 and Fort Hood, Texas last year.

While police response may be quicker, the actions you take may save lives.

In the event of an 'Active Shooter situation,' the base will sound the Giant Voice System with the command "Lockdown, Lockdown, Lockdown, Active Shooter, last known threat area is ___" as will the Network Alerting System messages on your computer. Your actions are:
  • Get in a secure room or area as quickly as possible and lock the door behind you if possible.
  • Don't gather belongings and don't stop to help injured people...you may be a target.
  • Communicate the situation to others as you move.
  • Stay away from doors and windows.
  • Barricade doors with whatever is available.
  • Call Security Forces only if you have pertinent information. Limit the use of phones so systems don't crash (this happens in almost every tragedy.)
  • Do not respond to fire alarms unless you feel, see or smell a fire.
  • If the opportunity presents itself (gunman is reloading, not looking, etc,) use force to overpower the subject, but do not seek the gunman out.
  • If you are in a secure location, do not move around; wait until mass notification or Security Forces announcements clear movement.
When Security Forces enter the building, do not make sudden moves that may confuse responders on who the suspect is. Stay calm, keep your hands in the air and follow their instructions. Provide them with any information you may have that may help them locate the shooter.

Once the situation is terminated, announcements will be made via Giant Voice, NAS and word of mouth. At that time, ensure accountability of all personnel is taken. Look for injured personnel and anything that might cause harm to them. Remember, the shooter may have placed explosive devices around the area. If found, do not disturb the item, notify Security Forces immediately.

Lessons learned from previous Active Shooter situations:
  • Telephone and cell phone lines quickly became overloaded hindering law enforcement and medical response.
  • People fled to places that could not be locked down.
  • People called or texted information on the situation to media outlets which caused complications for Security Forces and base agencies.
Most importantly, preparing now for a similar incident can save lives, if and when it happens.

In coming weeks, information and training will be disseminated to prepare the base populace, followed by a series of exercises to test the response of the base, Security Forces and leadership.