JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash.  -- The Airmen Activities Center opened Feb. 11 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The new center provides an alcohol-free environment for Airmen to play video games, watch movies and build comprehensive fitness skills.    

MCCHORD FIELD, Wash.  -- When emotions runn high and guns blaze, the objective was crystal clear: to kill or cause serious harm to others before turning the trigger on himself or being taken down. Many law enforcement authorities across the United States categorize anyone having this approach as an active shooter. 

Because the active shooter phenomenon is unique, law enforcement agencies are developing new tactics, techniques and procedures to protect the public. Reservists with the 446th Security Forces Squadron are no exception. 

On Feb. 12, 2011, Tech. Sgts. Michael Pate and Rick Shumate, 446th Security Forces Squadron trainers, began a 48-hour training course specifically tailored for Reservists on how to neutralize active shooters on military installations around the world. Both sergeants recently completed the civilian-directed active shooting instructor course in Seattle. 

"We didn't have a structured active shooter training program," said Sergeant Pate, a uniformed security officer at The Boeing Company in Renton, Wash. "But the shootings at Fort Hood, Texas, and our own at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Lewis Main in 2009 brought it home that active shooter training was necessary." 

Sergeant Pate said the U.S. government saw an urgent need for agencies to create active shooter responder teams to stop and eliminate active shooters from causing harm to others. He added Reservists run the risk of not being selected to be part of an active shooter responder team if they didn't develop these skills. 

The sergeants said the U.S. military originally spearheaded the initial active shooter training, which civilian law enforcement communities tailored to suit their needs. They said they found it ironic the training has come back full circle and is now being tailored, or 'militarized' as they phrased it, to suit the military's needs. They added the 62nd SFS Airmen are receiving active shooter training with their counterparts at JBLM Lewis Main. 

According to Sergeant Shumate, 446th SFS RAVEN program manager (specially trained SFS personnel who provide security for Air Mobility Command aircraft that transit high terrorist and criminal threat areas), the training will run over upcoming UTA weekends and cover topics like initial responders' responsibilities and basic formations. Sergeant Shumate, a former Special Weapons and Tactics member of three years, said the training is specifically tailored for Reservists completing their drill weekends, annual tour, or on long-term orders.

"This training will get anyone, even those who don't even work in law enforcement on their civilian side, to develop the mindset that active shooting can happen and they have to act," said Sergeant Pate. "We have to go from patrolling the base to active shooter mode with a completely different mindset, quick." 

The sergeants said Reservists must move quickly from tactical thinking to aggressive action. They said although they know acting aggressively is outside the scope for many people, decisive and deliberate action is necessary to stop the threat of multiple deaths and/or fatalities, all the while knowing they themselves could be harmed or killed. 

Controlled speed, surprise and aggression: Watchwords Reservists must abide by, to win the battle against active shooters. 

"It's a highly dangerous mission, but we can't fail," said Sergeant Shumate.

 Ken Swarner, co-owner of Swarner Communications was named the 2010 Bryce Lilly recipient by the 62nd Airlift Wing at McChord Field February 17, 2011.
   The 62nd chooses one person each year for the Bryce Lilly - Airmen, spouses, civil servants, community leaders are eligible.  The award, named after Bryce L. Lilly, a POW survivor from WWII and ardent supporter of the 62nd and McChord, is given to a person for his or her dedication and support of the 62nd Airlift Wing.
   "If I can even half-way measure up to our great Airmen and their families, then I am a proud man," said Swarner.  "I am so deeply touched that I have been able to honor the men and women of the 62nd Airlift Wing.  I am glad my efforts have touched them."
   Swarner was recognized for his work throwing support parties for military families, collecting welcome home baskets for returning warriors, his efforts as a founding member of the Pierce Military Business Alliance, raising tens of thousands of dollars to support military projects, his role as co-chairman of the Lakewood Area Chamber of Commerce's Military Affairs Committee, and as cubmaster for DuPont's Pack 472 where 2/3 of his cub scouts are from local military families.    

MCCHORD FIELD, Wash.- About 35 McChord Airmen, 15 of them Reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing, are in Christchurch, New Zealand where a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Feb. 22.

Based in Christchurch with their C-17 Globemaster III to support Operation Deep Freeze, the Airmen are all accounted for and uninjured. Likewise, the C-17 escaped any damage, although today's mission has been delayed.

"We had people in the hotel, at the airport, downtown, at stores when the earthquake hit," said Chief Master Sgt. James Masura, 446th Operations Group and currently deployed to Christchurch.

"The airport has power, so we have some of our folks there powering up their computers, checking the news and just standing by," the chief said.

According to Col. Lane Seaholm, 446th AW vice commander, the Airmen from McChord are currently waiting for instruction from higher headquarters as to what they'll be doing next.

"We're ready and willing to provide any assistance requested of us by higher headquarters. We had a mission set for today to carry 40 people and nine pallets in support of Operation Deep Freeze, but that's on hold," Colonel Seaholm said by phone from Christchurch.

Colonel Seaholm said that he's never been through an earthquake this big.

"It's quite an emotional event," he said. "Most everyone here has at least touched based with their families back home to let them know we're all okay."

Operation Deep Freeze is an annual operation that supports the U.S. Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation's research at sites throughout the Antarctic continent. The Joint Task Force - Support Forces Antarctica operation is led by 13th Air Force and includes strategic inter-theater airlift, tactical deep-field support, aeromedical evacuation support, search and rescue response, sealift, seaport access, bulk fuel supply, port cargo handling and transportation requirements.