TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 325th Security Forces Squadron participated in an active-shooter exercise July 31, 2018 at Tyndall Elementary School.
“We have a great partnership with Tyndall Elementary School,” said Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Craig, 325th SFS operations superintendent. “We have worked with them in the past to provide a robust presence at the school. But, this is the first opportunity we have been able to use [simulated ammunition] and use school grounds for active-shooter training.”
Senior leadership from the 325th Fighter Wing to include Col. Jefferson Hawkins, 325th FW vice commander, Maj. Joshua Frizzell, 325th SFS commander, and other notable leaders attended the exercise to observe Security Forces personnel in action.
The exercise was the first of its kind at Tyndall Elementary School. Airmen responded to various active-shooter scenarios in a building with an unknown layout.
“It is important to use different buildings that we are not familiar with because it helps hone the mental capability of our defenders to be able to react and respond appropriately during uncertain situations and unknown environments,” Craig noted.
Security forces personnel scoured the hallways of Tyndall Elementary to seek out potential threats. The training allowed 325th SFS Airmen to practice real-world scenarios; thus, sharpening their reaction time and marksmanship.
“It’s a perishable skill,” said John Trachte, 325th SFS training section instructor. “If you don’t use it, you lose it. They are getting better and more comfortable with their weapon every time they do a run through [of the training scenarios].”
Each scenario requires a different tactic in order to apprehend the opposing force.
“The purpose of training them on active-shooter scenarios is for them to be ready to respond with the appropriate measure of force regardless of the situation at hand,” Craig said. “Whether it’s a minor infraction where we just have to talk to somebody to find a resolution or if it is a situation where we have to match lethal force with lethal force.”
The training demonstrated the high-caliber skill sets of Tyndall Security Forces personnel.
“The immediate response, the marksmanship and the poise of our Airmen gives me great confidence in their ability to react to like-situations if it were to happen in the real world,” Craig said.