FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Select Soldiers and law enforcement professionals assigned to 2nd Security Forces Assistance Brigade's Security Forces Assistance Teams attended law enforcement specific training Nov. 26-27 at the Syracuse Police Academy.
Members of the Syracuse Police Department hosted the training and shared their techniques and procedures regarding evidence collection, warrant procession, criminal justice procedures and reacting to active shooters.
This training provides members of the SFATs with realistic experiences in a controlled environment, opposed to seeing it for the first time in a combat environment.
"It's important to have professionals supporting professionals," said Lt. Col. Gregory A. Cannata, 2nd SFAB's Security Forces Assistance Team chief. "I think this really shows that the civilians in our area support what we are doing overseas."
The first day consisted of classroom labs discussing procedures and theories, followed by members of the SPD recertifying with their assigned tasers. A handful of Soldiers volunteered to be "tased," and they were rewarded with T-shirts adorning the SPD logo.
"We have hosted training a few times in the past for military units; our Special Weapons Assault Teams have even trained on Fort Drum," said John Haskell, a member of the SPD Training Division. "Joint training of this caliber needs to be done; we can learn and grow from each other."
The pace quickened on the second day when they executed active shooter reaction drills.
"It is important for Soldiers to realize there are ways outside of military tactics to track down the bad guys," said Joseph Morabito, an LEP assigned to 2nd SFAB.
Drawing on more than 30 years of law enforcement experience and more than six years of overseas deployments with the military, Morabito said he has been able to track an incident back to the source and prevent further injury or loss of life to U.S. Soldiers fighting abroad.
While most of the tactics and procedures taught during the two-day course were geared toward scenarios found within the U.S., the principles and standard are universal.
"There are significant differences between America and Afghanistan; despite these differ- ences, the principles that were taught to us will apply throughout," Cannata said.
Whether fighting on foreign soil, defending the homeland, or simply running through battle drills at work, the training learned will be beneficial to all.
"All Soldiers will benefit from this training," said Pfc. Cameron W. Goff, a military police specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion. "At least if something happens, we would all be on the same sheet of music."
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