319th Security Forces Airmen participate in active-shooter training

An Airman with the 319th Security Forces Squadron, far right, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent, and officers with the Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department form up outside of Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School in preparation to enter an active-shooter scenario Aug. 10, 2017, on Grand Forks Air Force Base. The training exercise was held to allow the members to practice room clearing procedures, rear security and communication in order to apprehend potential shooters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elora J. Martinez)

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319th Security Forces Airmen participate in active-shooter training

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent takes cover behind a vehicle in the parking lot behind Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School during an active-shooter scenario Aug. 10, 2017, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. The USCBP led the three-day training event, providing classroom and hands-on training dealing with a variety of active-shooter scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elora J. Martinez)

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319th Security Forces Airmen participate in active-shooter training

Airmen with the 319th Security Forces Squadron, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, and officers with the Grand Forks Sheriff’s Department gather to discuss a plan of entry during a training exercise at Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School Aug. 9, 2017, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. The USCBP led the three-day event, providing classroom and hands-on training dealing with a variety of active-shooter scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elora J. Martinez)

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319th Security Forces Airmen participate in active-shooter training

Airman 1st Class Caitlyn Roden, entry controller with the 319th Security Forces Squadron, prepares to enter Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School as part of a training exercise Aug. 9, 2017, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Groups of law enforcement officers, to include Airmen, took turns running through active-shooter scenarios set up by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection supervisory agents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elora J. Martinez)

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319th Security Forces Airmen participate in active-shooter training

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection supervisory agent refills magazines with non-lethal, paint-filled ammunition for simulation weapons given to the active-shooter training participants at Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School Aug. 10, 2017 on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Participants had the option to use either a rifle or pistol, and were instructed to use the weapons as they would in a real scenario. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elora J. Martinez)

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319th Security Forces Airmen participate in active-shooter training

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent apprehends his target through a classroom window during active-shooter training at Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School Aug. 9, 2017, on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Those who participated in the training were given simulation weapons that shot rounds filled with washable paint. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elora J. Martinez)

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319th Security Forces Airmen participate in active-shooter training

Senior Airmen Richard Arias and Jeren Grantham, Base Defense Operations Center controllers with the 319th Security Forces Squadron, take a water break after completing an active-shooter scenario during a training exercise at Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School Aug. 10, 2017 on Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D. Groups of law enforcement officers, to include Airmen, took turns running through active-shooter scenarios set up by U.S. Customs and Border Protection supervisory agents. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Elora J. Martinez)

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319th Security Forces Airmen participate in active-shooter training

Published Aug. 25, 2017
By Airman 1st Class Elora J. Martinez
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Several Airmen with the 319th Security Forces Squadron and other law enforcement agencies participated in classroom and hands-on training dealing with active shooter scenarios here, Aug. 8, 9 and 10, 2017.

The training was hosted at Carl Ben Eielson Elementary School by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and was designed as a refresher course to focus on tactics how to handle an active shooter or barricaded subject.

The three-day active-shooter training included classroom and hands-on training, and included agencies like the University of North Dakota Police Department, North Dakota and Minnesota Highway Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the 319th Security Forces Squadron.

Athan Birbilis, operations officer with the USCBP stationed at the Grand Forks Sector Headquarters, was in charge for organizing the event and setting up logistics.

“The biggest benefit is we’re all training together,” He said. “In a field environment, it’s realistic to have different agencies responding to that incident. If we’re all training together, we know what to do to respond effectively and properly.”