Mandatory 'active shooter' briefings continue today, Friday at Welch Auditorium Published May 12, 2010 By Susan Griggs 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Gen. Stephen Lorenz, Air Education and Training Command commander, has directed all AETC installations to conduct training on appropriate actions during an "active shooter" situation. The last four of 10 sessions, which are mandatory for all military and civilians assigned to Keesler and highly encouraged for dependents and retirees, are at 9 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. today and Friday at Welch Auditorium. The sessions, which take about 30 minutes, are conducted by the 81st Security Forces Squadron. "'Active Shooter,' which refers to the indiscriminate active shooting of people, has become an item of interest for the Air Force," explained Brig. Gen. Ian Dickinson, 81st Training Wing commander, in a May 6 memo. "With the active shooter scenario becoming more prevalent to everyday life, AETC has identified a need to inform Keesler personnel on actions they need to take when confronted with the active shooter situation." General Dickinson cited the November incident in which a gunman opened fire on personnel preparing to deploy in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom at Fort Hood, Texas, in which 12 people were killed and 31 were wounded. In March, a potential active shooter incident occurred in a dormitory at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. For personnel who are on leave, temporary duty or have a valid reason for not attending one of the mandatory briefings, squadron commanders or first sergeants will be given the slides to provide so everyone can be briefed. Incoming permanent party and contractors will receive this mandatory briefing during Right Start or when they receive their contract badges from the contracting office respectively. Students will be provided training at some point during in-processing. For more information, contact Maj. James Clark, 81st SFS commander, 376-5673, or e-mail email james.clark.8@us.af.mil.