Lock-down procedures important for personnel safety

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michael Washburn
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  When a security situation arises on base, the civilians and military members on the installation need to be protected from harm. D-M utilizes a lock-down procedure to ensure base personnel remain safe and protected while the situation is mitigated.

"Lock-down procedures are designed to protect the base populace," said Ron Hoover, 355th Fighter Wing antiterrorism force protection officer. "We keep the lock-down in effect until we rectify the situation."

Much like how sprinklers in buildings are emergency systems to a fire, a lock-down is the security system of the base. It's all meant to keep people safe.

"It's almost like an autopilot," Mr. Hoover said. "The base shuts down and it allows the emergency responders to react to the scene without having to also worry about the base personnel."

D-M has always had security procedures, but after the shooting at Fort Hood, Texas these measures have become more paramount.

"The Fort Hood incident really caused a re-evaluation of procedures with the active-shooter scenario with the Department of Defense," Mr. Hoover said. "After the shooting, a lot of new procedures came out and the DoD mandated active-shooter awareness training, lock-down procedures and exercises for that program. The lock-down procedures were always there in some capacity, but it was Fort Hood that generated the current procedures."

There are different security measures D-M takes to protect the base and the public, but everything is based on the current threat or situation. If it's a complete base lock-down, then all the gates leading on and off the base could be shut down.

The lock-down procedures are meant to protect the personnel of the base and therefore should be followed. There are severe consequences for any individuals who may decide to disregard these security measures.

"People need to follow the procedures of the base," Mr. Hoover said. "Civilians or military members could be arrested and detained. These procedures are in place for their safety. If we do implement a lock-down, it's for a good reason."

Base personnel need to remember that the main objective for implementing a lock-down is personnel safety. For some, being stuck in a building for an extended amount of time may prove to be frustrating and unnecessary, but the procedures D-M has in place ensure the safety and security of the base populous.

"I've been stuck in a lock-down before and yes, it's extremely annoying being confined to one place for so long," said Ally Mis, fiancée of an Airman. "But, I understand the importance of having these procedures. You can't have tons of people running around the base scared while security forces or medical personnel are doing their jobs, so it's necessary."