Review: Tactical Defense Institute's Active Shooter Training course

by Mike Hummel

On Saturday September 10th and 11th, Tactical Defense Institute of West Union, Ohio held a two day Active Shooter Training course for the Law Enforcement officers, Emergency Medical Responders, School Teachers and School administers of Holmes County, Ohio.

We began Saturday morning training at the West Holmes Jr. High school. From 9:00 am until noon John Benner from TDI spoke and gave a PowerPoint presentation discussing what is a an active shooter, history of the active shooter, law enforcement response and events changing law enforcement response to an active shooter situation. He also gave the class statistics, facts and discussed the methodologies of previous school shootings.

Following a lunch supplied by the local Millersburg Subway restaurant, two school principals and 23 LEO & EMT personnel left with Mr. Benner and seven TDI Tactical staff members to begin their tactical training in the event of a school shooter.

The remaining teachers and school administers were treated to a lecture by Dr. Richard Castor Executive Head of NASRO & Dr. Deborah Fletcher a TDI student on the multitude of options available to the unarmed person during a school shooting.

The Saturday afternoon training for the 25 tactical students consisted of proper room entrance, stair clearing, hall clearing , corner rounding and drop outs.

Sunday morning at the Millersburg Elementary we reviewed what we had learned, donned air soft masks, and put what we had learned into action. Various scenarios, set up by the experienced TDI staff were run three at a time in different parts of the school. After each student or team of two students ran a scenario everyone involved took part in an AAR discussing what had happened, why it happened and what if anything could have been done better. Lunch was provided by East of Chicago and then it was back to more scenario drills.

As I watched the two days of training I was amazed at the new skill sets that the officers were rapidly acquiring. Hourly you could see an increase in speed; accuracy and safety under stress, as problem solving and problem resolution were smoothed out by the TDI staff.

We ended the training Sunday afternoon, tired, sore, and with the certainty that Holmes County was far more ready to quickly end a school shooting that it had been. Every officer there was enthusiastic in their praise for the TDI staff, new bonds had been made, and new skills learned - in all, a great event!

The training was paid for with funds from the local business and service groups of Holmes County.

If you have an interest in seeing this essential training take place in the community that you live please feel free to contact myself, or one of the other people that organized this event for Holmes County. Take advantage of ourr experience in dealing with school administers concerns, communicating with the various first responders and law enforcement agencies, along with funding the project. You can contact me via mobile phone at 330.763.3533 or email me at [email protected].