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Responders include new life-saving tactics to shooter protocols

  • Published
  • By Samuel King Jr.
  • 96th Test Wing Public Affairs
An Airman screams in pain from a gunshot wound.  The shooting has ended, but she hears footsteps again in the building’s stairwell.  The door slams and the footsteps get closer.  She braces herself for the worst as the steps draw near.  Then relief fills her face as she sees, instead of a gunman, firefighters with RESCUE displayed on their body armor escorted by armed security forces Airmen.

That was the active shooter exercise scene held here April 11.  This scenario depicts a change in emergency response tactics and strategy being implemented here.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our team for leaning forward and adopting this strategy,” said Col. Craig Johnson, 96th Civil Engineer Group commander.  “If the unthinkable happens, I’m confident we are prepared to do all we can to save lives.”

The change, based on lessons learned from real-world shootings, now allows firefighters, escorted by armed security forces Airmen, incremental access to remove the wounded.

The current Air Force active-shooter strategy requires the location to be completely secured before emergency personnel are allowed access.

“There may be victims suffering while the entire building is secured,” said Jeff Bello, Eglin’s exercise and evaluation chief.  “In a building with multiple floors, the wounded could die while waiting for help.”

The strategy of the 96th Test Wing’s new Rescue Task Force is to get the victims out of harm’s way, i.e. out of the building or danger zone, as quickly as possible.  The Rescue Task Force travels light with protective gear and a minimum of medical equipment to stabilize the wounded and get them to safety.

“Our goal is the rapid removal of victims from any danger and expedite movement to a hospital or treatment facility,” said Mark Giuliano, Eglin’s fire chief.

The implementation of this strategy began in 2014. The Department of Homeland Security provided new guidance that advocated the use of the Rescue Task Force concept.  Shortly after, the fire department began the process of including the RTF into the base’s response plans.

“This was a new concept for everyone,” Giuliano said.  “I wanted to lean forward on this to ensure the safety and protection of Eglin Air Force Base.  It was the right thing to do.”

Together with 96th Security Forces Squadron, Eglin’s Fire Department created new procedures and training for the base’s response to shooting incidents.

The fire department leaned heavily on security forces training for the fire-team-style tactical movements and building entry procedures. It sought a civilian instruction team to also help refine this new potential life-saving strategy.

“Security forces is in the business of escorting and securing personnel, so this has been a huge paradigm shift with incorporating the fire department to move and communicate as we do,” said Master Sgt. Dawn Jones, 96th SFS NCO-in-charge of training.

A RTF class was developed for fire department personnel to complete as well as hands-on exercises with their security forces counterparts. True to the spirit of the 96th TW developmental test mission, the fire department even tested a mounted hose on an armored vehicle in case an assailant attacked with fire. The vehicle would protect the firefighters as they attacked the fire through windows.

By 2015, the operational plans were in place and checklists created for various threat scenarios.  Firefighters were outfitted with new gear ballistic protective equipment to include a protective vest, helmet and quick access medical kits worn around the leg. The RTF was utilized during Eglin’s recent active-shooter exercises and would deploy in the event of a real-world on-base event. 

Around the same time Eglin’s plans became procedures, Giuliano was asked to share this new strategy with Air Force Security Forces Center leadership for possible inclusion into an overall security training plan for the Air Force.

“Security forces and fire have these well-established plans that have been in place for a while,” said Giuliano, of the Air Force units’ current active-shooter techniques.  “This new procedure would potentially merge our two training plans together across the Air Force.”

Though that change in training process will take time, Giuliano believes this new system is the way forward.  A demonstration of Eglin’s RTF procedures for the Air Force security forces leadership is scheduled for later this year.

“This new method improves our overall response capability to an active shooter situation,” said Giuliano.  “It allows us to get in as swiftly and safely as we can to save lives and that’s what it is all about… saving lives.”