The Georgia Police Academy is now offering monthly courses for A.L.E.R.R.T. Terrorism Response Tactics Active Shooter Level 1. These courses will be held at GPSTC’s main campus in Forsyth.
A.L.E.R.R.T. Terrorism Response Tactics Active Shooter Level 1 is an adoption of the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (A.L.E.R.R.T.) program created by Texas State University – San Marcos, promoted by the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation. This course is designed for state and local law enforcement officers, tactical officers, firearms instructors, and school resource officers who will respond to any type of active shooter event.
Violent tragedies in our nation’s schools changed the response and training protocols for our first responding police officers to active shooter events. This paradigm shift away from reliance on specialized SWAT and tactical teams to resolve critical, in-progress violent homicidal acts has created a new, aggressive response capability by our nation’s true first responders: the patrol officer.
Tested under fire and repeatedly proven to save lives, this swift and effective patrol response protocol is the standard for American law enforcement officers. Terrorist organizations around the world have identified the active shooter/small-arms attack model as a viable scenario to bring violent chaos and destruction in furtherance of their ideological ideals.
The attacks in Mumbai, India, in November 2008 and the Fort Hood, Texas, attack in November 2009 serve as blueprints for terrorist groups to duplicate in the United States and abroad. Not only must our first responders be trained and prepared for a single gunman in a school, mall, or public gathering, but they must also be prepared to fight well-trained, committed terrorists simultaneously attacking their community on multiple fronts.
The A.L.E.R.R.T. Program was developed with the basic goal of providing proven tactical training to first responders in order to better protect their communities and save lives. The training, which must be affordable for all who need it, must be relevant, standardized, and constantly evaluated to ensure that the latest terrorist threats are addressed and planned for. It encompasses realistic force-on-force scenarios to actually prepare first responders to act, not simply have an awareness of this clear and present threat. Additionally, those delivering this training must be veteran field officers, with personal boots on the ground life experience in the realities of this new kind of terrorism that threatens our communities.
Special Notes: Students should bring Duty Gear or Tactical gear, including ballistic vest, which would be worn in an actual Active Shooter incident. This course uses Simunition; therefore, the student will need to bring protection such as long sleeve shirts or jacket. Head and throat protection will be provided. On day two of this course, students should not wear anything identifying them as Law Enforcement. Students should bring snacks and a refillable water container due to limited breaks.
Click here to see the course offerings and register!
