U.S. and Canadian Air Forces work together to respond to insider threats

Staff Sgt. Christopher Crean, 386th Security Forces Squadron Check Six instructs two Canadian service members during a combatives class Feb. 22, 2015. The Check Six team taught the 10-hour self-defense class to 17 Canadian Armed Forces members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jared Marquis/released)

U.S. and Canadian Air Forces work together to respond to insider threats

Tech. Sgt. Taylor Rogal (left), 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Check Six, practices combatives with a Canadian service member Feb. 22, 2015. The Check Six team taught the 10-hour self-defense class to 17 Canadian Armed Forces members. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jared Marquis/released)

U.S. and Canadian Air Forces work together to respond to insider threats

Published March 30, 2015
By Tech. Sgt. Jared Marquis
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Members of the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron Check Six program here are sharing knowledge and training to help the Canadian Armed Force adapt and implement a similar program for dealing with insider threats.

To date, the team has provided training on active shooters, joint task force support components, operational impact and weapons retention and disarmament, said Master Sgt. Antonio Martinez, Check Six program lead.

“The Check-Six program has been implemented as a method to train all personnel on individual and unit response techniques during active shooter and/or work place violence situations,” Martinez said. “The program focuses on prevention, response and resiliency and is based on two lines of effort; communication and performance.”

The Canadians have already begun the first phase of active shooter training with their own personnel, he said.

The process to implement the training began approximately three months ago when members of the RCAF embraced the Check Six training concept and introduced it to the newly-formed Auxiliary Security Forces. The Check Six team has provided lesson materials and hands-on training.

“The training slides and information has been ‘Canadianized’ to fit their personnel and procedures,” Martinez said. “Their program from the basic level should mirror what we have in place. The JTFSC Command is injecting the Check Six concept into our Force Protection Plan and is part of the battle drills.”

This joint effort ensures that the level of awareness and response to an active-shooter incident will be similar should it happen in a coalition environment.

“In recent years, insider, active shooter and suicidal aggressors have conducted several high profile attacks on U.S. and coalition personnel, underscoring the necessity to maintain appropriate levels of awareness and promote resilience amongst our joint forces,” Martinez said.
He added that they see a trend of consistent, observable tendencies for vigilance to decrease and complacency to increase throughout deployment cycles.

“Diminished preparedness creates an unacceptable risk to the safety and security of personnel and resources, and ultimately affects our ability to accomplish the mission,” Martinez said.

By incorporating the program, coalition partners are familiar with U.S. response procedures located in the base response plan. This ultimately ensures everyone is on the same page should an incident take place, he said.

“This partnership helps us with one of our top priorities – to protect the base,” he said.