Fort Stewart's quick response: Former safety chief credits Army protocols with saving lives

Rapid Response and Emergency Protocols at Fort Stewart

Following a shooting incident that left five soldiers injured at Fort Stewart, a former public safety director at the Georgia military installation provided insights into the base's emergency response and weapons safety protocols. Officials have commended fellow troops for their quick actions in subduing the suspect, which likely prevented further casualties.

Army Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, from Jacksonville, Florida, is accused of shooting five fellow service members with a personal handgun in the area of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team at Fort Stewart. All victims are expected to recover, according to officials.

Retired Army Col. Mike Bumgarner, who previously oversaw all emergency services and policing at Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, explained that military police would have arrived on the scene with multiple units within three to five minutes of receiving a 911 call. He also highlighted the FBI-style protocols that soldiers are trained to follow, such as quick evacuation, barricading if escape is not possible, and taking swift action to address imminent danger.

Weapons Safety and Access

Bumgarner noted that while soldiers living in barracks cannot store weapons in their rooms, those residing in on-post family housing or off-post are allowed to keep personal firearms, provided they are registered with the fort’s provost marshal. If leadership has concerns about a service member’s stability, the standard protocol is to ask the soldier to turn in their weapons for safekeeping. If the soldier refuses, a commander will typically step in and order the weapons to be confiscated.

During a news conference after the shooting, Army officials stated that Radford did not have any prior disciplinary or behavioral issues. However, Liberty County, Georgia court records show that Radford was arrested on May 18 and charged with driving under the influence and failure to obey traffic control devices. These charges were unknown to his chain of command.

Investigation and Community Response

Bumgarner emphasized that something went wrong somewhere in the process. He mentioned that chaplains are very active in the U.S. Army, and the chain of command is attentive to any potential issues. “If the chaplain or the first sergeant notices something, they will try to get the individual to go in [for help] themselves,” he said. “What happened with this soldier? Apparently, something fell through the cracks somewhere along the way. We'll find out.”

The Army's Criminal Investigation Division (CID), which is leading the investigation with possible support from the FBI, is likely looking into which weapons were registered with the provost marshal and collecting interviews from anyone involved. Commanders will also search for any links to terrorism, fanaticism, or a larger issue involving more than one individual. Other investigators will focus on the crime itself, including preserving the crime scene, collecting evidence, and speaking with associates who may have noticed something unusual.

Rare Incident and Military Community

“This is exceptionally rare, and I guarantee the community, the whole Army, is shocked by this,” Bumgarner said. “It's just not something we see. The Army is very tight-knit.”

In terms of long-term prevention of weapon misuse, Bumgarner pointed out that there is no quick fix. He referenced the heightened security measures implemented after 9/11, such as 100% vehicle checks. “Once you do it, it becomes a thorough search. Every compartment or container that can contain a handgun, you will be searching,” he said. “You can sustain it for a period of time when a known threat is high, but that would be very hard and demanding on all the security, military police, as well as those that have to transit on and off post.”

Bumgarner added that the Second Amendment rights are respected in the military as well. “That's how they keep weapons in quarters. How do you preclude that? The military is a microcosm of our society.”