January 30, 2016 by Nick Coffman, SOFREP
The FBI has released data on active shooters that in-part led to the Air Force’s recent decision to allow servicemembers to carry weapons. Of the findings in the report, strong evidence exists that a high percentage of the active shooter situations were ended by citizens who engaged the shooter. Over 40% of the shootings that occurred from 2000-2013 were ended by someone other than law enforcement getting involved, or by the shooter committing suicide.
- In 37 incidents (23.1%), the shooter committed suicide at the scene before police arrived.
- In 21 incidents (13.1%), the situation ended after unarmed citizens safely and successfully restrained the shooter. In 2 of those incidents,
- 3 off-duty law enforcement officers were present and assisted.
- Of note, 11 of the incidents involved unarmed principals, teachers, other school staff and students who confronted shooters to end the threat (9 of those shooters were students).
- In 5 incidents (3.1%), the shooting ended after armed individuals who were not law enforcement personnel exchanged gunfire with the shooters. In these incidents, 3 shooters were killed, 1 was wounded, and 1 committed suicide.
- The individuals involved in these shootings included a citizen with a valid firearms permit and armed security guards at a church, an airline counter, a federally managed museum, and a school board meeting.
- In 2 incidents (1.3%), 2 armed, off-duty police officers engaged the shooters, resulting in the death of the shooters. In 1 of those incidents, the off-duty officer assisted a responding officer to end the threat.
One of the many things to take away from the report is that ordinary citizens will almost always be among the first called on to end an active shooter scenario. With many events taking place in a matter of seconds or minutes, it is virtually impossible to rely on law enforcement to always be available when needed. Citizens should make themselves aware of just what to do in those types of situations in order to increase their chances of surviving, and also of ending the threat.
by Jenn Rowell, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. January 29, 2016
Denisse Willis cries Friday while recounting her experience with Technical Sgt. Sean Russell and Staff Sgt. Joseph Stalzer helping to save her 18-month-old baby Aryanna Willis.(Photo: TRIBUNE PHOTO/JULIA MOSS)
Fellow airmen and members of the public rushed to the rescue Thursday during a very scary moment for an Air Force family.
Denisse Willis was on her way home from the emergency room with her 18-month-old daughter, Aryanna, when Aryanna had a febrile seizure, which are convulsions that occur in children between 6 months and 5 years old. The seizures are triggered by fever.
“My first instinct was to pull over and get her out of the car,” Willis said Friday. She was headed back to Malmstrom Air Force Base on 10th Avenue South and pulled into a left turn lane.
Someone pulled up behind her, and “I yelled at him to call 911,” she said. Another man helped her get across the street to a grassy area.
That’s when Tech Sgt. Shaun Russell showed up. He and two other airmen had been at AutoZone at 3300 10th Ave. S. picking up parts for their vehicle shop. Russell is with the 341st Security Forces Support Squadron. Initially they thought they were seeing a vehicle accident, but then they noticed Willis in the road with her baby.
Technical Sgt. Sean Russell helped save 18-month-old Aryanna Willis during a roadside emergency Thursday. (Photo: TRIBUNE PHOTO/JULIA MOSS)
They pulled over, partially blocking traffic, and checked to make sure Aryanna had a pulse.
She did, so he rolled her on her side to open her airway.
At that point, Staff Sgt. Joseph Stalzer showed up. Stalzer is with the 819th RED HORSE and did a jaw thrust maneuver to open the baby’s airway and she started showing signs of recovery, he said.
The airmen in Russell’s vehicle used their fleece jackets to keep the baby warm.
Shortly afterward, local emergency medical personnel arrived and took care of Aryanna. On Friday, the baby was doing just fine, Willis said.
It turns out that Aryanna’s father is also a member of 819th RED HORSE and both of the airmen who stopped to help had CPR training outside of the military. Russell was formerly an emergency medical technician and Stalzer spent four years working in an emergency room as an EMT-intermediate.
Stalzer has two young children, including one who shares a name with Willis’ daughter.
Staff Sgt. Joseph Stalzer helped save 18-month-old Aryanna Willis during a roadside emergency Thursday. (Photo: TRIBUNE PHOTO/JULIA MOSS)
“It hits home,” he said. “I would want someone to do that for me.”
Neither airman wanted much attention and said they’ve stopped to help in several situations, never seeking thanks.
“I didn’t tell anybody,” Russell said about the incident. “I just did what needed to be done.”
Willis said she also knows CPR but was grateful to see military members rushing to help.
“It was very comforting to see other military, because I knew they knew what they were doing,” she said.
Willis said she’s thankful to the airmen and the civilians who stopped to help.
“You can tell they genuinely cared,” she said.
Welcome Home to all the AP/SP Defenders and Augmentees! This weekend 30/31 Jan 2016 will be the 48th Anniversary of the TET 1968 attacks. To those of us that were there and survived it. This will seem just like yesterday that it happened and we all know it is not. We all have good and bad thoughts about those morning and the follow SP's and Augmentees that give their all to defend their bases. Please to a moment next weekend to remember everyone that U know that served in Vietnam and especially those that were working to defend their air bases those mornings. Thank You All for your service. Pete Piazza
BGen (S) John T. Wilcox To Move to Global Strike Command
In a Senior Leader Announcement late last week the Air Force announced that Security Forces officer BGen (S) John T. Wilcox, currently serving as the 341st Missile Wing Commander, would move to be Director, Strategic Plans, Programs, Requirements and Assessments, Headquarters Air Force Global Strike Command, Barksdale AFB, LA later this year.
Military Bases No Longer Accepting Driver's Licenses From 5 States
By Kevin Lilley, Army Times, January 14, 2016
Driver's licenses issued by five states no longer serve as accepted identification for those attempting to access federal facilities, including military bases.(Photo: Heather Graham-Ashley/Army)
Federal facilities no longer accept driver's licenses from five states as valid identification for individuals seeking entry without an escort, but some military bases are offering workarounds, granting grace periods, or continuing with current access rules that require more than an ID.
Those with licenses from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico and Washington state can no longer use those IDs to enter an installation, according to regulations included in the Real ID Act, which requires states to meet security and data-collection guidelines for the identification cards they issue.
Pentagon officials estimate about 20 installations forcewide are affected.
While only 22 states and the District of Columbia are listed as compliant with the legislation on the Department of Homeland Security’s website, 23 states and Puerto Rico have received waivers that keep their IDs valid until October (June for New Hampshire).
“Enhanced IDs” offered by Minnesota and Washington meet the Real ID standard and will allow users access. IDs issued by U.S. territories are also covered by the legislation; American Samoa is the only territory not in compliance that has not received an extension.
The new rule took effect Sunday, said Nate Allen, spokesman for Army Installation Management Command. Some bases took to Facebook to inform communities of the change or sent out news releases; Allen said DHS “communicates the requirements of the law in the public domain,” so no Defense Department or Army-wide announcement was anticipated.
Those without compliant IDs “will continue to be vetted through the National Crime Information Center prior to being issued a locally produced ID or pass,” Allen said in an emailed response to questions, adding that supplemental identification would be required to complete the process. Those who don’t provide alternate ID “must be escorted at all times,” he said.
While the law applies to all bases, rules appear to vary when it comes to what happens when an individual with an invalid ID card reaches the gate:
• Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, will issue a one-time-only pass that allows unchaperoned access without additional identification, according to a news release. That policy will end Jan. 27.
• White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, will require additional ID for unchaperoned access: either a military or draft record, a Social Security card, a State Department-issued Certification of Birth Abroad, a U.S. Citizen ID card or a Resident Citizen ID, according to a Facebook post.
• Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, is “reviewing the requirements and determining what actions we need to take to implement appropriate changes,” a spokesman said Wednesday. No changes have been made to existing access rules, which include NCIC checks and verification of an individual’s reason for visit, and generally require an on-base escort.
• Fort Bliss, Texas, will allow those with noncompliant IDs to receive a one-day pass (with escort), but those who used such ID to get a 30-day pass will have to reapply with alternate identification, the El Paso Times reported.
• Fort Bragg, North Carolina, no longer will accept noncompliant IDs for those seeking a visitor's pass without an escort, The Associated Press reported.
• The U.S. Military Academy and other installations announced the change on Facebook, directing readers to online DHS materials for further guidance.
The Real ID Act also applies to airline travel, but deadlines for ID acceptance by the Transportation Security Administration have been pushed back until 2018.
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