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Photo Information

Capt. Eric Meeder searches for potential targets during a Marine Air Control Group 28 Headquarters and Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 28 anti-terrorism force protection training event at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, Aug. 20, 201. Meeder is the all-terrorism force protection officer for MTACS- 28. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird/ released)

Photo by Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird

MACG-28, MTACS-28 hold active shooter drill

25 Aug 2015 | Pfc. Nicholas P. Baird 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing

Only one day before two American servicemen showed their mettle to the world helping to prevent a possible mass shooting aboard a train from Amsterdam to Paris, two squadrons based at Cherry Point conducted an active shooter drill to help Marines here improve their reactions to an armed threat.

More than 50 Marines with Marine Air Control Group 28 Headquarters and Marine Tactical Air Command Squadron 28 participated in the active shooter drill. Two Marines from the special reaction team with the Provost Marshal’s Office provided guidance throughout the drill to optimize the simulation’s accuracy in depicting an active shooter.

 “One purpose of the exercise was to accomplish our annual anti-terrorism force protection drill requirement for the ATFP program,” said Capt. Eric Meeder, the anti-terrorism force protection officer for MTACS-28. “We also needed to validate our current ATFP active shooter procedures.”

Sgt. William B. Ibarrondo, the intelligence chief for MACG-28, explained that he hopes that there will be more exercises and training like this for his unit as they are extremely beneficial.

Every unit conducts an ATFP drill, explained Meeder. Some execute bomb handling drills and others may participate in an active shooter drill. The drills are designed to test the Marines ability to follow protocol for these scenarios in a controlled environment.

“I hope the Marines took a lot from our special reaction team members,” said Meeder. “Those guys are making a conscious effort to get involved in the units. Their expertise is really the icing on the cake for us.”

After the exercise, the Marines with the SRT debriefed the participants about how they could improve their procedures and stay alert.

Drills simulating a state of emergency have proven to be effective in real life situations, said Meeder. Marines will carry the knowledge they received here for the rest of their careers.


2nd Marine Aircraft Wing