A Short Analysis on Training for the Active Shooter Scenario
Greg Schneider, CPP, CPT
Global Security Services Manager, Protective Intelligence Specialist, International Lecturer & Instructor
I have spent many, many years providing online training and education as well as live in-person training. Online training is great as an academic pursuit, and for developing a theoretical knowledge base. One can receive checklists on a myriad of subjects for what to do in case of.... High end produced videos are great educational tools as are table top exercises. Certain decision making capabilities can also be developed online incorporating appropriate challenging tests of the subject matter.
Active Shooter training however is TACTICAL in nature which means it is a perishable skill that must be trained and maintained. One can intellectually understand what to do in an active shooter situation but a physiological response occurs emanating from the central nervous system when an active shooting takes place. So good luck to those who just studied what to do instead of training what to do.
There are three obstacles to rolling out effective Active Shooter training -
1. Time
2. Money
3. Lack of understanding by Risk Management, Insurers, and Legal professionals
Think of all of the soft targets and millions of people that work in such facilities. Thats a lot of people to train, test, and evaluate not to mention the hours of time required. So to "cut costs" and assume the risk that a mass casualty event won't happen, Active Shooter training is either not pursued or a cheap online course is used as a model to "teach people" what to do. Sadly, several private security companies will roll out online Active Shooter training to the very officers who will physically need to respond in a crisis situation.
Making critical decisions to shelter in place, escape, or fight back on the backdrop of screams, breaking glass, the sounds of gunfire, and general chaos requires training. Making a critical decision as part of a video training series versus deciding to run, hide, or fight when hearing the loud bang of a high powered rifle could not be more different.
If we can train millions of school children how to physically respond in case of a fire - something of a similar nature should be rolled out to the working public. There are some good providers of Active Shooter training in the industry, if we all put our heads together perhaps we can develop a customizable format that can be funded to some degree via grants by the DHS and adopted by the private sector.
Stay Safe,
Greg Schneider
Global Security Services Manager, Protective Intelligence Specialist, International Lecturer & Instructor
9 年Thanks Josh, I have read a number of your articles over the years.
Professor of Practice, Intelligence and Global Security Studies, Capitol Technology University.
9 年Thanks for your excellent recommendation of the need for "physical" active shooter prevention workshops.
Facebook Physical Security Team
9 年I like the last point about DHS and want to add communities need to roll this out to the public, as the last month's incident in San Bernadino illustrated. It's not just a business concern anymore.
Excellent point - this should be made into a handout for every school board and every police department, on the risks of DIY training.
President-IAPSC | Board Certified Security Consultant | Security Expert Witness
9 年Great piece Greg.