Routine Active Shooter Drills at US Military Bases

Active-Shooter Drills: A Standard Practice at U.S. Military Bases

Active-shooter drills have become a regular part of training for military personnel stationed at U.S. bases, aimed at preparing them for potential incidents like the one that occurred on Wednesday at Fort Stewart in Georgia. During this incident, five soldiers were shot but are expected to recover, according to officials.

Retired Army General Robert Abrams, who previously commanded the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart and now works as an ABC News contributor, highlighted the importance of these drills. He mentioned that active shooter training is an "annual training requirement" and typically focuses on the installation’s immediate response force and security forces, which are comparable to police SWAT teams.

These exercises are not just routine—they serve a critical purpose. Last year, Fort Stewart military police were seen participating in an active shooter and hostage rescue training exercise. The Fort Stewart Public Affairs Office noted that such exercises improve interoperability between the fire department and the Fort Stewart police force, ultimately helping to save lives and prevent disasters.

During the recent incident, the alleged shooter, Quornelius Radford, was subdued after other soldiers intervened and tackled him. Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield, praised the quick actions of the soldiers involved. He stated that their intervention prevented further casualties.

The increased emphasis on security protocols at U.S. military bases can be traced back to several deadly mass shootings at military installations over the past two decades. The deadliest of these occurred in 2009 at Fort Hood in Texas, where 13 people were killed and 30 others were injured.

At Fort Stewart, an active-shooter drill was conducted in 2011 that simulated a real-life crisis with a fake shooter and a hostage situation. According to one of the organizers, this exercise had been discussed since the shooting at Fort Hood. Such simulations help ensure that military personnel are prepared for real-world scenarios.

There are also strict rules governing weapon possession on military bases. Combat firearms are stored in base armories, and their use is limited to soldiers participating in field training. These weapons are returned to the armory after the training concludes. In the case of the recent incident, Radford is believed to have used a personal handgun rather than a military-issued weapon.

Military personnel are allowed to possess personal firearms that are legally registered, but there are restrictions on how they can be brought onto a base. Despite these measures, deadly shootings have still occurred on U.S. military bases in recent years. Fort Stewart has experienced similar incidents before.

On December 12, 2022, an Army specialist shot and killed an Army sergeant at Fort Stewart. Both individuals were assigned to the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, the same unit involved in Wednesday's shooting. Another fatal shooting at Fort Hood took place in 2014, leaving three dead and 16 injured.

In 2019, multiple shootings occurred at various military bases across the country, including the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii, the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C., the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, and the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia.

These events underscore the ongoing need for vigilance and preparedness within the military community. While active-shooter drills and enhanced security measures are in place, the threat of violence remains a reality that must be continuously addressed.