The four military police officers snaked down a darkened hallway before stopping in front of room 203.
"JBLM Military Police! Come out with your hands up!"
Silence.
The four then quickly opened the door and decisively entered the room.
A man with a gun appeared.
Shots were exchanged; the shooter went down.
While one MP kept his weapon trained on the downed man, another MP cautiously approached the downed man, kicked his gun away and began putting handcuffs on him.
The two other MPs checked several other rooms.
"We're good," one MP called out as he and his partner finished checking a closet. "We'll call for medics for the guy down."
The four MPs had been told that shots had been fired. Their task was to locate and stop the threat.
They accomplished the mission.
>>> Lt. Rayvaun Smith, directorate of Emergency Services, briefed soldiers, who played the role of "bad guys and gals," before a training scenario. Photo credit: J.M. Simspon
This active shooter scenario conducted at the closed Heartwood Elementary School at McChord Field was designed to add a sense of realism and raise the level of difficulty for the 42nd Military Police Brigade soldiers taking part in the training.
The two-day training conducted at the school is a part of the larger Protector Professional Police Course, a month-long series of learning events coordinated by the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command.
>>> Moving through dark rooms looking for "shooters" during a training exercise confronted soldiers in the 42nd Military Police Brigade. Photo credit: J.M. Simpson
"Soldiers learn what to do and what not to do," commented Lt. Rayvaun Smith, an officer attached to Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Directorate of Emergency Services.
"These soldiers are great to work with; they are willing to learn and remember."
One of the key points that Smith continually stressed to the young soldiers was the need to talk to each other as they worked.
"Communication is key," he said repeatedly when he stopped training to make a point. "Talk to one another, and make sure that you always work as a team."
In a quiet, professional and clear manner, Smith took the time to talk through the challenges each training scenario presented.
"Can you tell where I am?" he asked as he walked down a dark hallway and turned off his flashlight.
"No," came back the answer.
"By turning your flashlight on and off like this, you don't give the bad guys an idea as to where you are," Smith pointed out.
Heads nodded; the lesson had been learned.
"This has been outstanding training, the instructor is very good," 2nd Lt. Erin Hilt said.
"Understanding urban ops and how to move systematically is great for us to know in keeping this community safe."
>>> Soldiers from the 42nd Military Police Brigade subdue a "shooter" during a Protector Professional Police Course, a month-long training exercise. Photo credit: J.M. Simspon