Active shooter exercise expected to impact base access, operations

  • Published
  • By Susan Griggs
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AFB, Miss. --  Have you ever been locked in a building with no way out?

If you're at Keesler June 21-22, that's what you can expect, whether you're working, shopping or exercising.

Air Education and Training Command has scheduled an active shooter exercise to test the base's ability to respond to a mass casualty event, according to Col. Mark Morris, operations, readiness and intelligence division chief at the command's directorate of intelligence, operations and nuclear integration.

The urgency of correct actions with a gunman on the loose was underscored during the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas. Exercises are held to monitor how the base reacts to reports of such an attack.

"Team Keesler is playing this for real," said Brig. Gen. Andrew Mueller, 81st Training Wing commander. "We realize that this may be inconvenient, but we have to ensure that our people know how to respond and recover from a mass casualty event.

"We're trying to alert our members and the public to the anticipated delays during the exercise," the general continued. "The lockdown phase should only be a few hours, but this is going to cause delays at our gates that could affect trimpact people in the surrounding community."

Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., had a similar exercise in May. Tim Coleman from the Keesler Public Affairs office, a member of the base's exercise evaluation team, was on hand for Maxwell's active shooter exercise to observe how emergency response teams, installation agencies and individuals answered the threat.

"Maxwell had signs posted everywhere in advance of their exercise to alert personnel and retirees so they could adjust their plans," Mr. Coleman pointed out. "It's important for people to understand that the exercise will affect all facilities on base. Whether you're in a classroom, the gym, the commissary or the barber shop, when the call comes, the doors will be secured and you'll be directed to a safe location until the 'all clear' is sounded."