Active shooter exercise puts Fort Rucker to the test

By Nathan Pfau, Contributing WriterFebruary 17, 2011

Active shooter exercise puts Fort Rucker to the test
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Active shooter exercise puts Fort Rucker to the test
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FORT RUCKER, Ala. -- Fort Rucker put itself on lockdown as emergency officials sprang into action for an active shooter exercise Feb. 9.

The exercise began at Lyster Army Health Clinic at 1 p.m. when a "gunman" entered the facility, firing his weapon and demanding to speak to "Dr. Smith." The scenario called for the hospital to be evacuated and Fort Rucker emergency responders to jump into action.

"The reason why we did the active shooter exercise is because the commanding general (Maj. Gen. Anthony G. Crutchfield) is very Family oriented, and one of the key points he makes when he talks in any forum is the necessity to keep the entire Fort Rucker community, not just the command element, abreast of any situation that can put them in peril," said Michael G. Whittaker, installation antiterrorism officer.

"In light of the Fort Hood incident, and the many similar incidents in the news as of late, planning and preparation are key to preventing these kinds of events," he said.

First responders arrived on the scene and encountered a lone gunman who, according to the scenario, is killed by military police, but not before he killed six people and wounded two others.

Responders soon learned there was a second gunman at a separate location who had taken hostages. In such a scenario, Fort Rucker officials would work with both the Dothan Police and the FBI in order to resolve the situation.

Fort Rucker emergency and medical responders, along with officials from other law enforcement agencies, need to be equipped to handle this type of situation, said Col. James A. Muskopf, Fort Rucker garrison commander.

"Preparedness can never be underestimated," Muskopf said. "A tragic event like the scenario today might happen, and the more you're ready for it, the less chaotic, the less hectic and the less confusion there is going to be to keep people safe and get back to the state we want to be in."

The scenario tested the training of emergency responders and the procedures put in place to react to this type of situation.

"We want to make sure that all of the policies, procedures and operating principles that we're going to work on will, in fact, work," Muskopf said.

He said that this scenario is just one of a number of emergencies the post prepares for - there are plans to keep the community safe during hurricanes, tornadoes, events that involve high explosives and Aviation accidents, just to name a few.

But with some of the recent history, such as the Fort Hood shooting, Muskopf said he thought it was important that the active shooter scenario be exercised on a larger scale.

"We've done table top exercises before where we've sat around and talked through all the procedures with all the players involved, but this actually gave us the chance to roll out the police, the emergency management folks, shut down the post for a little while and to exercise the sirens," Muskopf said.

He added that he was confident in the training and ability of Fort Rucker's police, firefighters and emergency medical responders to do what they are needed to do in this type of scenario, but another goal of the exercise was to get the rest of the base involved, military and civilian alike.

"We tried to immerse the population of Fort Rucker by making it a post-wide scenario," said Muskopf, adding that the scenario called for all those on the post to lockdown their offices, turn off the lights and find a meeting point for everyone in their offices.

"The coordination for the active shooter exercise began in November, and had been briefed to senior leaders, spouses groups and commanders on several occasions. Army and Air Force Exchange Service, the commissary and post schools were notified well in advance of the exercise date," Whittaker said. "It is imperative that we share the responsibility with the command in ensuring that the entire Fort Rucker community helps us protect our most cherished assets--our Soldiers, Families and the entire community."

Muskopf said that he was satisfied overall with the way the emergency responders of Fort Rucker and other law enforcement agencies handled the scenario.

He also thanked local law enforcement officials for working with the military, and the entire post community for its patience and efforts to help prepare for an event no one hopes ever comes to the community.