Staff Sgt. Kyle Billings, 18th Security Forces Squadron response force leader, talks to two witnesses of a scenario involving an active shooter during a local operational readiness exercise, May 17 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Each LORE has scenarios like these to keep emergency response skills of Kadena's Airmen up to speed. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Jarvie Z. Wallace)
Airmen perform self-aid and buddy care on a “victim” of a scenario involving an active shooter during a local operational readiness exercise, May 17 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Scenarios like these are common sights during each of Kadena’s LOREs because mimicking real-world situations helps Airmen keep their response skills fresh. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Jarvie Z. Wallace)
An Airman applies pressure to a mock gunshot wound on a moulage victim after a scenario involving an active shooter during a local operational readiness exercise, May 17 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Scenarios during the LORE are used to strengthen responses of Airmen in case of real-world emergencies. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Jarvie Z. Wallace)
Airmen carefully move a "victim" of a gunshot wound onto a stretcher as part of a scenario simulating an active shooter during the Local Operations Readiness Exercise, May 17 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The LORE, Beverly High 11-04, is a week-long exercise that prepares Airmen for possible real-world situations. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson)
Airmen carefully move a "victim" of a gunshot wound onto a stretcher as part of a scenario simulating an active shooter during the Local Operations Readiness Exercise, May 17. The LORE, Beverly High 11-04, is a week-long exercise that prepares Airmen for possible real-world situations. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson)
Simulated victims of an active shooter scenario wait for care to arrive after initial self-aid and buddy care during a Local Operations Readiness Exercise, May 17 at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Beverly High 11-04, the May LORE, is one way Airmen train for real-world scenarios like they might be presented with one day. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson)
Airman 1st Class Jason Rimer, 18th Contracting Squadron contract specialist, applies pressure to a “victim’s” neck wound after a simulated active shooter wounded Airmen during a scenario in the Local Operations Readiness Exercise, May 17 at Kadena Air Basem Japan. Beverly High 11-04, the May LORE, is a way to train Airmen to be prepared for real-world scenarios like. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson)
by Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson
18th Wing Public Affairs
5/18/2011 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Kadena is participating in Beverly High 11-4, a local operational readiness exercise, this week which shifts gears for Kadena and focuses on training Airmen for possible emergency situations.
During each LORE different scenarios are enacted to build the skills Airmen need if they encounter a real-world emergency, such as an active shooter taking aim at "victims" in the Finance Office or there's a bomb threat in a building full of Airmen.
"I think [this scenario] was more for the people inside the building, to keep them up on their self-aid and buddy care skills," said Staff Sgt. Kyle Billings, 18th Security Forces Squadron response force leader. "That was the biggest focus. After we went in, they escaladed the situation. It was [the witnesses] who were in there doing a lot of medical care, first aid and self-aid and buddy care."
"It's routine training that we go through," Sergeant Billings continued. "Just in case this really does happen, we can all be up to speed to take care of a problem like that."
With first responders and "moulage" victims adding to the realism of the scenario, training during LOREs can be more effective than classes Airmen would take due to the simulated emergency environment.
Sergeant Billings also stated scenarios like these are used to practice for real world events. These types of situations can happen, and everybody needs to know what to do; they need to know their role when they're inside of a building.
For instance, during the scenario, the 18th SFS had to take hold of the situation and terminate the gunman to make the scene safe for the victims and witnesses.
Thanks to the training of both 18th SFS members and witnesses participating and administering SABC to the moulage victims, the scenario went smoothly.
"Overall I think it went really well," Sergeant Billings said. "None of the first responders were killed during the exercise. None of the injured deceased due to lack of self-aid and buddy care. The building was secured, and it all went relatively quick. I think overall it was pretty successful."
