Naval Weapons Station Yorktown conducts active shooter exercise

Photo By Susanne Greene | WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (Oct. 19, 2022) Emergency Response Team members from York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office search Sailors as part of Blue October active shooter drill on Cheatham Annex Oct. 18, 2022. The Sailors from Navy Cargo Handling Battalion One portrayed hostages that were released and searched as standard operating procedures dictate. (U.S. Navy Photo by Naval Weapons Station Yorktown Public Affairs/RELEASED).  

WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES

10.18.2022

Story by Susanne Greene 

Naval Weapons Station Yorktown

YORKTOWN, Va. – It was a sunny afternoon at Cheatham Annex when the sounds of routine operations were interrupted by rapid gunfire; the Blue October multiagency active shooter exercise had begun.
“It’s important for Naval Weapons Station (NWS) Yorktown to train with our community partners so we are all better prepared for a real-world situation,” stated NWS Yorktown Commanding Officer Capt. Chris Horgan. “Engaging with our community partners is beneficial to the added security of both the installation and the communities within which we serve.”
NWS Yorktown Naval Security Forces, Fed-Fire, York-Poquoson Sherriff's Office (YPSO), and the York County Department of Fire and Life Safety combined their expertise during a drill on Cheatham Annex for Blue October, an active shooter and barricaded hostage scenario, Oct. 18.
Installation Training Officer Wayn MacKay said, “The exercise has not been conducted for two years due to COVID-19, but we are confident that the opportunity will provide extraordinary training value to all who participated.”
“For the Opposition Force, we used a Detective/Hostage Negotiator from the Newport News Police Department, which helps to introduce negotiation challenges to the drilling YPSO Hostage Negotiator, while alleviating any unrealistic ‘off-script’ adlib that could potentially derail the intent of the exercise,” stated MacKay. “Navy Cargo Handling Battalion One provided us with one of their facilities and 17 Sailors to act as victims.”
Prior to the exercise, special effects makeup was applied to some of the victims to simulate wounds while other volunteers were instructed to act frightened and ask first responders for help.
It was an intense and challenging 3-hour exercise designed to benefit all team members.
"Training with federal entities in our jurisdiction is essential in providing effective law enforcement services to our community,” Emergency Response Team Commander Lt. Kris Ward stated. “It was a great opportunity!"

• Date Taken: 10.18.2022
• Date Posted: 10.27.2022 14:03
• Story ID: 432134
• Location: WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA, US