By Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs / Published May 29, 2020
SMSgt. Brian Sheffield, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing inspector general director of exercise inspections, is handcuffed during an active shooter during an exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, May 28, 2020. Three bases, ASAB, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base and Cargo City were tested with a realistic active shooter situation involving players from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron fire department and 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron mortuary affairs, along with coalition partners from Camp Canada. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum)
A team of defenders from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron check vitals of simulated wounded gym patron during a wing active shooter exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, May 28, 2020. The exercise was designed to evaluate 386th Air Expeditionary Wing emergency responses and recovery procedures while minimizing impact to the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Isaiah J. Soliz)
SMSgt. Brian Sheffield, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing inspector general director of exercise inspections, simulates an active shooter during an exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, May 28, 2020. Three bases, ASAB, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base and Cargo City were tested with a realistic active shooter situation involving players from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron fire department and 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron mortuary affairs, along with coalition partners from Camp Canada. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum)
Defenders from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron clear their weapons prior to a wing active shooter exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, May 28, 2020. The exercise was designed to evaluate 386th Air Expeditionary Wing emergency responses and recovery procedures while minimizing impact to the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Isaiah J. Soliz)
An Airman assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron covers a doorway during an active shooter exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, May 28, 2020. Three bases, ASAB, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base and Cargo City were tested with a realistic active shooter situation involving players from the 386th ESFS, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron fire department and 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron mortuary affairs, along with coalition partners from Camp Canada. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum)
A defender from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron apprehends an assailant during a wing active shooter exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, May 28, 2020. The exercise was designed to evaluate 386th Air Expeditionary Wing emergency responses and recovery procedures while minimizing impact to the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Isaiah J. Soliz)
A first responder from the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron triages a casualty during a wing active shooter exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, May 28, 2020. The exercise was designed to evaluate 386th Air Expeditionary Wing emergency responses and recovery procedures while minimizing impact to the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Isaiah J. Soliz)
A team of defenders from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron provide security while their team sweeps a building during a wing active shooter exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, May 28, 2020. The exercise was designed to evaluate 386th Air Expeditionary Wing emergency responses and recovery procedures while minimizing impact to the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Isaiah J. Soliz)
Airmen assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron fire department triage simulated patients during an active shooter exercise at Ali Al Salem Air Base, May 28, 2020. Three bases, ASAB, Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base and Cargo City were tested with a realistic active shooter situation involving players from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, 386th ECES fire department and 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron mortuary affairs, along with coalition partners from Camp Canada. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Kevin Tanenbaum)
The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing conducted a simultaneous active shooter exercise on May 28, 2020 at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Ahmed Al-Jaber Air Base and Cargo City in order to test the response of an on-base threat.
All three bases were given a realistic active shooter situation involving Airmen from the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineering Squadron fire department and 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron mortuary affairs, along with coalition partners from the Canadian Armed Forces.
“These types of exercises are realistic, and they’re situations that can actually happen,” said Senior Master Sgt. Brian Sheffield, 386th AEW Inspector General director of exercise inspections. “Being able to respond to an event this dynamic within three installations serves as a vital communication piece that’s a critical aspect of getting a base recovered.”
Sheffield explained that testing Airmen with exercises and seeing how the geographically separated crime scenes are handled correctly is a difficult thing to accomplish. He continued explaining that providing the installations this practice now helps identify gaps and holes to better response processes.
“Once SFS appears on scene and neutralizes the threat, they should clear the building and check for secondary shooters or devices and pronounce the scene safe,” said Sheffield. “Our medical and fire (responders) will treat casualties and triage the locations. If we have any casualties or deaths, we will have physician assistance to pronounce them, and then mortuary affairs will move the body for proper handling and transport back to home station.”
The situation also called for the Canadian Armed Forces to be players once the 386th ESFS declared the scene safe.
“In this instance we got word there was a Canadian casualty, so we are working with mortuary affairs and the office of special investigation (OSI) to conduct the crime scene investigation,” Sgt. Craig Singer, Canadian Armed Forces military police member. “We are here to assist in every way we can, whether it be photography, collections or repatriations of remains.”
Singer highlighted the fact that this partnership with joint coalition partners is vital to becoming accustomed to each other’s operating styles and sharing of information to constantly progressing as a team.
Incorporating coalition partners as well as multiple players from the 386th AEW serves to secure the safety of the base by instilling the fact that if a situation occurred, Airmen are properly trained.
The 386th AEW is committed to continually fostering partnerships with coalition partners while ensuring base personnel are ready to defend the installation should a situation occur.