Advanced training keeps military cops up to speed

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tara A. Williamson
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The sound of scared and hostile screams echoed through the halls of Kadena High School as the instructors followed their teams.

"Which way did the shooter go?" "Have all the rooms been cleared?" "Are there wounded?" were all questions being shouted by the instructors.

The instructors, from the Asymmetric Threat Division of Analytic Services, provided service members from the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and Army military law enforcement divisions, along with their civilian counterparts, with the most current Pacific Air Forces High Risk Response Training.

"This training ensures security forces members are introduced to a common base of tactics, applicable across the career field, to guarantee seamless integration during a crisis situation," said Tyler Hare, a senior analyst with the Asymmetric Threat Division.

The training is five days, consisting of interactive academics, newly developed tactics and techniques in contemporary Special Weapons and Tactics, or SWAT, training, and intense, instructor-led scenarios with role playing victims and other distractions.

"What sets this apart from other contingencies is that the danger is immediate," said John Knipe, team lead with the Asymmetric Threat Division. "There is no time to wait for back up. Defenders must act now to save lives by moving directly to the sound of gunfire  ̶  with or without assistance."

Role players were brought in to add urgency and realism to the scenario and create the most authentic situations possible.

"Being security forces in the past, they've always got my heart," said Tech. Sgt. Crystal Jones, now an 18th Operations Group knowledge operator. "My connection with security forces is what made me volunteer for it."

During typical scenarios, Jones continued, instructors walk participants through buildings or rooms step by step. But when role players are brought in, emotional connections are made and participants experience the realism of the situations they are put into.

The course is designed to help PACAF prepare to meet dangerous and unpredictable situations on military installations requiring immediate law enforcement action.

Analytic Services has supported PACAF for nearly eight years with multiple anti-terrorism and force protection assessments and training, and has trained more than 400 U.S. Air Force security forces members from nine bases in PACAF, as well as many other service members from the sister services.