Defenders: Combat ready, always

by Senior Airman Zachary Perras
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

5/12/2014 - EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- "Shots fired, engaging target!" a voice calls out. Within seconds, a team of defenders rushes into the room to counteract the threat. The suspect is on the ground and cuffed in mere moments; the threat is neutralized.

While this might sound like the scene out of a movie, Airmen from the 354th Security Forces Squadron recently participated in high-risk response training where that situation was the norm.

To meet Pacific Air Forces' vision of providing the most extensive training for active shooter and other high-risk response threats, a team of skilled personnel from Analytic Services Inc. traveled to Eielson to teach the 354th SFS how to respond.

"The course is designed to help PACAF security forces prepare to meet dangerous and unpredictable situations that may arise on military installations that would require immediate law enforcement action," said John Knipe, ANSER team leader. "The intensive course, based in real-life scenarios, provides effective response tactics to empower PACAF security forces members to swiftly eliminate active shooter and other high-risk response threats."

The five-day training was developed by the ANSER team using constructivist teaching methods to help develop students' tactics and techniques. At the end of the week, students participated in instructor-led scenarios with role players and other sensory overload stimuli.

ANSER also identified to PACAF additional benefits and enhancements, such as requirements for base schools and other facilities to develop a crisis response box, Knipe said. This would enable all critical information to be available for first responders upon arrival.

"A crisis is not the time to collect information," he said. "Rather, it is the time to act."

While difficult, the training helped defenders learn just what needs to be done to protect and serve the Iceman Team. With realistic scenarios, the training was invaluable, according to Capt. Cameron Maher, 354th SFS operations officer.

"The mission of all security forces is to protect, defend and fight to enable Air Force, joint and coalition missions," said Maher. "Effective training hones our lethality, and when we do our job right, the rest of the Air Force can focus on its job."