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Sweat now saves blood later, even for others

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Carolyn Viss
  • Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR HICKAM, Hawaii --  Every military security forces member joins the service knowing they'll probably deploy and use their skills in a wartime environment. But what happens when a stateside emergency arises and they're needed to protect innocent bystanders caught up in a hostage or active shooter scenario, like what happened during Columbine, Virginia Tech., and most recently the Fort Hood shootings?

In order to be fully prepared to respond quickly and save lives, Airmen from the 647th Security Forces Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, participated in High Risk Response course Sept. 2, 2010.

"This is part of the fallout of the Ft. Hood, Texas, shootings," said Col. John McBrian, the PACAF A7S Security Forces division chief. "When someone is physically inside a building shooting and killing, it's a dynamic situation. You have to get in, find, and incapacitate the enemy as quickly as possible."

Conducted by Analytic Services, Inc. (ANSER) throughout the Pacific Air Forces including Elmendorf and Eilson Air Force Bases and Kadena, Kunsan, and Osan Air Bases, this course is designed to "aid law enforcement officers, specifically true first responders, in their ability to safely and effectively respond to, address, and stop an active shooter," according to John Knipe, a senior analyst for ANSER.

The course, which exceeds basic Department of Defense requirements, also included the Hawaii Air National Guard, Sailors, and local immigration customs enforcement officers based out of Oahu.

"An active shooter scenario has far-reaching consequences," said the colonel, who has been a cop for 32 years including his last 28 years as an Air Force security forces member.

Normally, in that kind of scenario, cops have to wait for the S.W.A.T. (special weapons and tactics) team to make entry to kill or negotiate.

"While they are doing that, people may be getting killed," Colonel McBrian said. "We don't have the luxury of time. Ultimately, this is about saving lives and making sure we're trained in case, God forbid, we have to use these skills."

With role players and plenty of lights and noise coursing through the empty building they used for training, the students had stimuli attacking all their senses as they practiced how they'd respond to the scenario.

"We learned a lot of new tactics, techniques and procedures," said Staff Sgt. Brett Lafreniere, a 647th SFS unit trainer. "The most challenging thing was overcoming what we call 'training scars,' or the way we're used to doing things. We're trying to get the older techniques out of our heads as we learn additional options to ensure our safety and the safety of those we're rescuing."

The next step will be to effectively coordinate with other agencies on base and let them know how security forces will respond in that sort of situation, Sergeant Lafreniere said.

"A crisis is not the time to collect information," Knipe said. "It's a time to act."