FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Fort Campbell will conduct a full-scale antiterrorism and emergency response exercise May 8. More than 20 on-post agencies will respond to several notional scenarios throughout the morning, designed to help evaluate the installation's first responders and support organizations' emergency response procedures.
The post-wide exercise will kick-off around 8:30 a.m. with an active shooter scenario, followed by a resident search in the afternoon, according to Jay Fangman, exercise director, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security. Agencies participating include installation First Responders and other support organizations that have an emergency role or responsibility.
"The senior leadership at Fort Campbell is fully engaged in the entire emergency management plan," said Brian Carrigan, DPTMS. "The protection, well-being and safety of all Soldiers, civilians and Families are a priority. Even though this full scale exercise concentrates mainly on an active shooter scenario, it exercises several other elements of protection."
During the exercise, traffic control measures will be implemented in the vicinity of the incident location, however, commuters and base personnel are encouraged to adjust travel time to allow for potential delays. Although there are no scheduled gate closures during the post-wide exercise, commuters may see an increase in vehicle searches, said Fangman.
The installation force-protection condition will be raised to Bravo the day prior to the exercise and raised to Charlie and Delta during the exercise, according to Fangman. The four levels of force protection applied to military installations are Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta, with Alpha being the lowest level and Delta the highest.
"The FPCON system is mandated by the Department of Defense as a requirement for installations," said Bill Fedak, Installation Antiterrorism Officer. "They are progressive levels of security measures implemented for interdicting or responding to threats to U.S. Army personnel, information, and critical resources."
Mr. Fedak also pointed out that particular FPCON measures during the exercise will involve actions by offices and units not normally associated with law enforcement or security operations to demonstrate the multi-layered type approach Fort Campbell uses daily to protect against threat.
The exercise activity will primarily affect the area surrounding building 2702, the new Soldier Readiness Processing Site. Although in close proximity to the Exchange, roads leading to the Exchange area will not be blocked, Fangman said.
"Pretty much everyone across post will be affected in some way," said Fangman. "You will notice a lot of first responder vehicles and there may be some roads blocked off. Just be aware that it is just an exercise and try to stay away from that area, if at all possible."
In addition to an increased visibility of emergency response vehicles and personnel, post personnel may observe role players with simulated injuries. The exercise should end by early afternoon.
The exercise is designed to evaluate, enhance and strengthen the installation's capabilities in response to a full spectrum of emergency situations. According to Fangman, it will satisfy the U.S. Army Medical Command mass casualty exercise requirement, as well as the Army's Emergency Management Full-Scale Exercise and Antiterrorism Full-Scale Exercise requirement.
"The exercise will allow us the opportunity to practice our response, to ensure that we maintain our proficiency and to find ways to improve," said Fangman. "The ultimate goal is keeping Fort Campbell safer for the Soldier and the citizens. If [a situation] does happen, we want to be ready."
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