Base
personnel, school staff and families gathered for an open house to
discuss Exercise Urgent Response at Brewster Middle School, Sept. 29.
During
the open house families were able to meet teachers and other staff, but
the event focused on preparing families and students for the upcoming
exercise.
"We want everyone
informed," said Dana Sutherland, Brewster Middle School assistant
principal. "We don’t want to send a panic out in the community. The
teachers have talked to (students) about practicing lockdowns and their
importance."
Exercise Urgent
Response is held annually to prepare base first responders for emergency
situations. The 2016 exercise will simulate an active shooter drill.
First responders such
as the Provost Marshals Office, Fire Safety Division, Emergency Medical
Technicians, Explosive Ordinance Disposal and the Special Reaction Team
will demonstrate their interoperability.
"The exercise will have
active shooters, a mass casualty drill and involve the Special Reaction
Team and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Marines," said Joseph Hanks,
exercise coordinator. "There are very few times where we work as a
group. We will be one unified command."
Active shooters are a current threat to the U.S., said 1st Lt. Eric Quintero, civilian police officer.
"You’re going to react the way you train," said
Quintero. "If the base, students and teachers have exposure to the
exercise, it gets them familiar with the muscle movements that go on
should the event actually happen. We want them prepared and it makes for
a safer environment."