Eielson, local police team up for training

  • Published
  • By Maj. James Popphan
  • 354th Security Forces Squadron
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  While most Alaskans were enjoying the NFL Playoffs, the Fairbanks and North Pole Police Departments joined forces with the 354th and 168th Security Forces Squadrons to enhance individual tactical skills on engaging and eliminating an active shooter Jan. 24.

The active shooter seminar aimed its attention toward identifying potential threats and methods of response while including a tailored set of objectives any peace officer could activate should the need arise. With the growing threat of school and office violence, both military and civil police officers are becoming proactive and increasing their response protocol to such a threat.

Within a ten hour classroom period, trainers from the Fairbanks and North Pole Police Departments honed the skills of security forces Airmen. This was the fifth training event, producing 70 trained personnel.

Eielson's security forces are responsible for the initial response to three schools which call Eielson Air Force Base home. Security forces rely on the teamwork and cooperation of North Star Borough school officials when using the facilities and working with the staff at the schools.

"This specific training is vital and shapes the battle space for civilian and military law enforcement agencies to work side-by-side if an active shooter were ever to endanger the populace of Eielson," said Senior Master Sgt. Steven Robertson, 354 SFS operations superintendent.

The training consisted of two parts: classroom interaction which discussed timing, tactics, and procedures, and an application phase where Airmen prepared and applied a practical hands-on response to an active shooter scenario.

Despite the direct concentration on school violence, the same tactics and procedures are vitally useful toward any engagement involving an active shooter, he explained.

Eielson's security forces recognize that the presence of increased stress could affect an individual's judgment resulting in violent acts toward perceived problems. In cases involving such violence, security forces will have the ability to respond and neutralize any known threat on base.

"Historically during active shooter events, police officers would respond, contain the scene, and wait for a special weapons and tactics team to arrive," said Sergeant Robertson. "The law enforcement community has recognized that this response is not quick enough or sufficient when a suspect is actively engaging victims. Individual police officers must be prepared to handle active shooter situations immediately, potentially before any back-up patrols arrive on-scene.

"The fast action of an active shooter situation compounds the waiting game, and intervention must be activated at a moment's notice due to the immediate threat toward innocent lives," he said.

Although the future cannot be predicted, this training provided by the Fairbanks and North Pole Police Departments will help prepare Eielson for the unknown. By working and training with the civil police for any possible scenario, the Eielson's security forces increased tactical command and control procedures for protecting Fairbanks North Star Borough schools on base.