Active Shooter Demonstration at RAF Lakenheath

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England ? Master Sgt. Joseph Amaral, 48th Fighter Wing NCO in charge of wing inspections, participates in a wing level exercise as an active shooter at the Lakenheath Sports & Fitness Center on Jan. 21. This exercise was implemented to test the reactions and responses of security forces members, medical personnel, firefighters and the people that were working out. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tiffany M. Deuel)

Active Shooter Demonstration at RAF Lakenheath

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England - Capt. Chris Bulla, 48th Operational Support Squadron weapon systems officers, elevates wounded arm during a wing level exercise at the Lakenheath Sports & Fitness Center on Jan. 21. This exercise tested the base populace-s reaction time to an active shooter incident. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tiffany M. Deuel)

Active Shooter Demonstration at RAF Lakenheath

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England - 2nd Lt. Celeste Luna, 492nd Fighter Squadron director of intelligence, poses as a victim of an active shooter demonstration at the Lakenheath Sports & Fitness Center on Jan. 21. The exercise included smoke filling the center, guns firing blanks, alarms going off and other aspects to make the exercise as realistic as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tiffany M. Deuel)

Active Shooter Demonstration at RAF Lakenheath

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England - Airmen 1st Class Kyle Utz, (left), and Jody Thomason, both firefighters of the 48th Civil Engineer Squadron, apply pressure to a gun-shot wound on the chest of Master Sgt. Jay Patterson, 48th Medical Surgical Squadron operator room flight chief, during a wing level exercise conducted at the Lakenheath Sports & Fitness Center on Jan. 21. This exercise enabled the Exercise Evaluator Team to see how the base populace responded to an active shooter. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tiffany M. Deuel)

Active Shooter Demonstration at RAF Lakenheath

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England - Staff Sgt. Caroline Nelson, 48th Medical Operations Squadron emergency room medical technician, closes the ambulance doors after loading Staff Sgt. Robert Powers, 48th Medical Logistics Squadron medical contingency response program manager during a wing level exercise at the Lakenheath Sports & Fitness Center on Jan. 21. This exercise was implemented to test the reactions and response times of the medical personnel, security forces members, firefighters, people working out at the gym and others. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tiffany M. Deuel)

Lakenheath stages live shooter exercise

Published Jan. 21, 2011
By Senior Airman David Dobrydney
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- The 48th Fighter Wing conducted an active-shooter exercise Jan. 21, testing the initial response capabilities of first responders and medical technicians.
While today's scenario was simulated, everyone, military and civilian, should keep the following in mind.

The most important step is the first report.

"If people don't report it, the clock stands still on the response," said Tech. Sgt. James Kamrad, 48th Security Forces Squadron exercise evaluator for today's scenario.

Next, personnel should follow all instructions from the base Giant Voice system, mass notification e-mail, and/or the leadership of the facility in which they are currently residing, said Lt. Col. Jay DeYonke, 48th Fighter Wing chief of inspections, citing guidance provided by U.S. Air Forces in Europe for contingency situations.

In the event of a real-world shooter scenario, the base may go into lockdown. Should this occur, Colonel DeYonke advised personnel that are inside to stay inside, and personnel outside to shelter in the nearest facility.

For detailed information about how to further protect yourself and your facility in the event of an emergency, view the Department of Homeland Security guidance here.