Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Quarterly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security
Issue link: https://uscgreservist.epubxp.com/i/386902
CGIS Personnel Participate in Active Shooter Training On Friday, May 16, 2014 thirteen agents from the Coast Guard Investigative Service's Northeast Region (CGIS NER) participated in response to active shooter training in Boston, Ma. This training is necessary due to the unfortunate reality of such tragic incidents as the attacks at the Navy Yard and at Fort Hood. Reserve Special Agent Sean Barry, who is also a member of the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and assigned to the departments tactical team known as the STOP Team, recognized the need for realistic active shooter training and approached his supervisor Special Agent in Charge Richard Cox. SAC Cox was behind the program from the beginning and authorized the training. On the morning of the training thirteen active duty, civilian and Reserve agents from across the New England Region met in Boston. Training buildings were provided to CGIS by the Boston Police Department and by the Boston Public Health Commission. Special Agent Barry began the day with USCG use of force training. Then the agents received classroom training on the history of active shooter events, the mindset and philosophy on how to respond to these types of events and lastly the types of tactics to be employed. Once the classroom training was complete, the agents were met by twelve members of the MSP STOP Team. Training was geared to a crawl, walk, run style of learning. Agents began learning the tactics and techniques needed in response to an active shooter situation. Once these tactics were mastered, Agents were issued simmunition pistols, simmunition rounds and protective equipment. The MSP STOP Team trainers then put each team through small scenarios. During these scenarios Agents were required to "think outside the box" and respond to the threats presented with little to no direction. At the end of each scenario the instructors held a debrief with each team and role players. The good and the bad of each scenario were reviewed. For the final phase of training Agents were staged outside of the building. To simulate an actual active shooter event, Agents were sent into the scenario in small groups. Some Agents had to enter the scenario on their own as this is realistic to what would happen in real life. Once inside Agents were confronted with armed assailants, non combatants and injured victims. All teams quickly dealt with the threat to end the killing. At the conclusion of the training, the MSP STOP Team Commander Sergeant Aaron Washington held a final debrief. The training was conducted in an efficient and professional manner with participant safety and protection of property given the highest priority. Several Agents remarked that this training was the most realistic training that they had ever gone through and they thoroughly enjoyed it. With the completion of this training, CGIS NER personnel are better trained to deal with violent incidents. Every Agent has a higher degree of confidence in their abilities but hopes the tactics they practiced will never be needed. Sector Upper Mississippi Reserve Crew Responds to Multiple Sinkings Sector Upper Mississippi River (SUMR) Reserve boat forces in St. Louis had a busy couple of weeks during their annual two week training period responding to two sunken commercial tow vessels in distress along the Mississippi River. The first vessel sank on Friday, 20 June near Alton, IL. The Alton Fire Department received a call from the Coast Guard about a tow vessel, the UTV JR3, which was taking on water around 10:30am. Everyone onboard was safely removed prior to the vessel sinking which occurred within a matter of hours. The Coast Guard stood up a safety zone around the area while recovery operations were underway. The safety zone was maintained over the next three days until the vessel was recovered. Four days later, SUMR received another report that a separate tow vessel, the M/V Jim Marko had sunk near the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge at the St. Louis Riverfront. The vessel sank with a reported 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel aboard. Pollution responders, marine investigators and enforcement units from SUMR responded in coordination with the St. Louis Fire Department, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and the St. Louis Metro Air Support Unit. — Story submitted by Lt.j.g. James Thomas Thirteen agents from the CgiS northeast Region participated in response to active shooter training in Boston, Ma., May 16. The tow vessel JR3 sinks in the Mississippi River near alton, illinois, June 20.