The threat of an active shooter situation is one that has been a serious focus around the Department of Defense. Naval Station (NAVSTA) Great Lakes partnered with Reserve Component Command (RCC) Great Lakes to ensure personnel are trained and ready to act if the situation were ever to happen.

The simulated exercise, Regional Training Team (RTT) 17, started as a quiet morning onboard NAVSTA Great Lakes when two disgruntled employees from RCC Great Lakes carried out a planned attack with plastic firearms on personnel inside the building. Simulated gunfire and injuries were also used to create a more real life experience.

RTT-17 consisted of emergency response from NAVTSA Great Lakes and local emergency responders.

"The purpose of this exercise was to hone our integrated response to an active shooter on base," said Mark Wegge, NAVSTA Great Lakes installation training officer. "In a real incident, NAVSTA Great Lakes police, fire and emergency management would respond with our municipal partners throughout Lake County. It is critical that all first responders not only understand interoperability procedures, but that we exercise those procedures and improve them. This integrated exercise gives us the opportunity to do that."

Wegge added that everyone onboard NAVSTA Great Lakes benefits from these exercises and that a rapid, effective response can save lives.

RTT-17 took months of planning and coordination to ensure the safest and most effective environment.

"Safety when conducting exercises is paramount to prevent injury, but more importantly , the training allowed our staff and law enforcement personnel the opportunity to see an active shooter situation from each other's perspective," said Senior Chief Mark Zirtzlaff, RCC Great Lakes Anti-terrorism and Force Protection leading chief petty officer. "Working together ensures the safest strategic advantage."

Wegge shared his thoughts after the exercise.

"It went pretty much the way we intended this exercise to go and we reinforced what we know and we learned what we didn't know," said Wegge. "Today was unique due to the fact that we had a very robust law enforcement response from our municipal partners and we were able to clear the building almost perfectly, but we will discuss everything and learn from this evolution. Overall, this was a successful exercise."

Zirtzlaff shared his thoughts about the RCC Great Lakes personnel and their actions to be taken as potential victims.

"For the staff of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic, Reserve Component Command Great Lakes, the primary intent was to exercise what they have learned as far as run, hide, or fight, and I think they did a great job implementing that," said Zirtzlaff. "The exercise provided valuable insight into the perspective of multiple victims involved and the decision making process each individual needs to make in an active shooter situation. When realistic training scenarios are developed in which key variables are identified in assisting first responders and in negotiating the building, it fosters a formidable environment of safety and security where none existed before."

The exercise provided a new sense of awareness for some people.

"The event was more realistic than I thought it was going to be and gave me a different way of thinking about these situations," said Yeoman 1st Class Cary Chavez. "The fact that they made it more realistic helped me to remember to remain vigilant not only at work, but when I am out and about with my family and friends as well."

Wegge stated he will be planning the next exercise soon and will take the information he has gathered and use it to improve these types of future evolutions.

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