HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – In order to evaluate emergency response capabilities, officials at Hanscom AFB will conduct exercise scenarios, including an active-shooter portion, Dec. 14 – 15.
Personnel coming on base during those days should anticipate interruptions to customer service functions and daily activities, such as restrictions, lockdowns, evacuations, and should call ahead. However, some facilities, including on-base schools, Child Development Center and youth services programs, building 1614, testing facilities, fitness testing areas, Brighton Marine, the pool, the credit union, commissary, and Base Exchange complex, along with base housing and lodging, will be exempt from participation. In addition, if religious services, military court proceedings, or source-selection activities are in progress, those areas will also be exempt.
“It’s imperative every Airman working on this installation is prepared to react to life-threatening, emergency situations,” said Lt. Col. Nathan Markley, Hanscom’s inspector general. “Exercises allow us to work through stressful events in a safe environment, and to be prepared for something we all hope never occurs.”
Planners have made safety a key consideration, and as with previous exercises, Hanscom Wing Inspection Team members will be monitoring all events. If any member of Team Hanscom sees something during the exercise they believe to be unsafe, he or she should report it immediately.
“Safety is our top priority during these scenarios,” Markley said. “Wing Inspection Team members, who are identifiable by their blue vests, will be on scene at every event and personnel can report safety concerns directly to them.”
He added that all WIT members have the ability to stop a scenario if safety is compromised.
If required as part of the exercise, any personnel calling 911 should preface the call with “EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE.” If using a cell phone and the call gets routed off-base, ask the operator to re-route the call to the Hanscom Air Force Base 911 operator.
For questions or concerns about the exercise, base personnel can email Hanscom’s Inspector General Office at 66.ABG.IG.Workflow@us.af.mil.