MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- People could hear the sound of gunshots and screams on the air station last week during a mass casualty drill, which was part of an anti-terrorism exercise at the Semper Fit Center, Sept. 10.
The exercise simulated an unknown shooter randomly attacking people in Mills Park and inside the gym. Much like the shootings that have been in the news, explained Kevin Kelley, the station anti-terrorism and force protection officer. The exercise shooting at the gym simulated the Pennsylvania gym shooting this year and the shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007, both of which had a shooter killing random victims.
Two Marines from the Provost Marshals Office responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting in the park and inside the gym. The Marines assessed the situation and spoke to a witness before entering the building.
Following the sound of gunshots, the Marines found and detained the shooter, played by Lance Cpl. Robert Stone.
“The two Marines from PMO that responded first came in and knocked it out quick,” said Stone. “The exercise was very realistic and the Marines treated it seriously.”
Members of PMO’s Special Reaction Team went through the building clearing each room, and assessing the simulated dead and injured, who had realistic bullet wounds ranging from fatal headshots to small grazes.
Once SRT cleared the area, Marines from PMO and the Miramar Fire Department began to bring the injured out of the building.
Marines and civilians carried the injured away from the gym to Mills Park, in case there was a second shooter or an improvised explosive device still in the building.
The fire department set up four tarps to help arrange the victims, explained Gregory J. Magill, the fire chief here. They used a black tarp for the dead, red for immediate care, yellow for significant but not life threatening injuries and green for small wounds.
In addition to the Miramar Fire Department, 11 ambulances from the local San Diego area arrived after the fire department and assisted in treating and transporting the victims.
Marines and civilians learned lessons through the exercise that they can pass on, explained Kelly. Exercises like this make them better at doing their job in the event of an actual emergency.
One thing they learned through the exercise was to make sure to give concise directions to the civilian ambulance companies, explained Magill. Some ambulance drivers may not understand where the east or north gate is.
“Its not often we get to be part of a large scale exercise like this with local emergency services,” said Magill. “We are always eager to get out and do training like this.”
The Marines and civilians that participated in the event proved they can save lives in the event of a multi-casualty incident and learned ways to improve their response to a dangerous situation.