Active Attack Response Training
This past spring Windham Mountain hosted a group of first responders from the surrounding emergency response agencies for an Active Attack Integrated Response training (AAIR). The course was put on by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office instructors and is considered the national standard by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for active shooter response training. The AAIR training was developed through the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University.
AAIR training is centered around the interagency response to an active shooter event. The main goals are to build awareness and partnerships across agencies and disciplines. If a major event occurs, all the responsible agencies could respond as a cohesive unit with an understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities.
Beyond the unfortunate fact that these sorts of events are something that needs to be prepared for, hosting an AAIR training holds benefits beyond response to active shooters by bringing together all the agencies that would be involved in any mass casualty event. In the case of Windham Mountain, in addition to the ski patrol and security, we had representatives from the county dispatch center, three police departments, two ambulance companies, and two fire departments who all service the area.
This training was initiated through conversations with our local Sheriff’s Training Sergeant while working together to set up active shooter training for the mountain staff. From those conversations, we identified an opportunity for multiple agencies that typically only interact while on an emergency call to come together proactively, strengthen their ties, and gain operational understanding across disciplines. Hosting this training at the resort created added benefits as all who participated gained additional awareness of Windham Mountain’s facilities, layouts, and capabilities and established professional partnerships before an incident occurred.
I would encourage any organization interested in similar training to reach out to their local, regional, or state law enforcement agencies and inquire about AAIR or similar interagency training to host at their location.
Zeke Pease
Patrol Supervisor at Hunter Mountain
Former Safety Manager & Pro Patroller at Windham Mountain
