Asymmetric Threat Division trains 18th SFS on high risk response

by Staff Sgt. Marcus Morris
18th Wing Public Affairs

4/13/2015 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Instructors from the Asymmetric Threat Division of Analytic Services provided the 18th Security Forces Squadron with a five-day Pacific Air Forces High Risk Response Training here April 6 through 10.

The training consisted of interactive academics covering the history of the active shooter, defensive tactics and techniques and intense, instructor-led scenarios with role-playing victims and other distractions.

"The training helped gear our security forces up just in case something happens around the base, whether it is an active shooter or someone actually hurting individuals around a populated area," said Staff Sgt. Sedale Berry, 18th SFS training instructor. "It also showed them the tactics they need to rescue victims and hostages and how to take out the immediate threat that is there."

In previous years, Analytic Services realized valuable seconds are wasted waiting for either backup or a SWAT team; this training focuses on the defenders having to act immediately to save lives.

"We teach security forces at all nine PACAF bases," said Jon Mulcahy, Analytic Services Inc. mobile security training instructor. "In the event of an active shooter situation or high-risk response situation going off, we believe these tactics will help security forces quell any threat and quickly get a shooter situation under control with minimum casualties or loss of life."

During training, instructors walked participants through buildings or rooms step-by-step dealing with barricaded suspects, scenarios with one and two shooters and having to clear rooms and remove wounded individuals. Afterwards, the role players were brought in and participants got to test their experience against an assault of noises and visual stimuli while their adrenaline was pumping.

"Role players give security forces a more realistic training," Berry said. "We could do the training without role players, but it wouldn't be realistic, and it wouldn't be beneficial to our people, so they definitely play an important role in the training."

Last year, the 18th SFS had 10 people certified to train high-risk response. After they finish the final day, 17 individuals will be certified instructors for high-risk response, which will allow them to keep their Airmen better prepared for any circumstance.