The most comprehensive manual available to first responders in organizing, commanding, training and responding to an active shooter/coordinated attack. The manual covers the full spectrum of the active shooter response in regards to both personnel and phases of the operation. In regards to full spectrum of personnel, it is a guide for regional authorities and agency administrators and a training tool for leaders, trainers and officers. In regards to the full spectrum of response, the manual covers every phase of the operation from prevention, planning a response, initial response, rescue task force operations, organizing outside agencies, clearing operations, evacuation of personnel from the scene, and investigations. The manual's purchase provides a 50% discount voucher/coupon for the companion Video Training Library (VTL), a supplemental training tool in the TELL, SHOW, DO instructional technique, which will ensure trainers and leaders stay calibrated and provide a tool that facilitates the sustainment of tactical skills. The voucher code in the manual can be utilized on the VTL page within this site.
Author and Contributing Authors Biographies
Author: Scott M. Hyderkhan
Scott was born and raised in Greenfield, Indiana. Upon graduation from high school in 1980 he joined the United States Army on a Ranger contract. His 20 years of service in the United States Army is highlighted with a great deal of his service in the 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. Scott retired from the United States Army in 2001 as a master sergeant. Scott entered service into law enforcement directly following military service and served for 19 years as a patrol officer with the City of Mercer Island, Washington. During his law enforcement career Scott dedicated his military expertise and SWAT officer experience to evolving his agencies Tactical Response Unit and response capability in mass casualty incidence, specifically active shooter response preparation and training. Scott’s military and law enforcement experience spans 39 years. He is the author of the Active Shooter Response Training Manual (CRC Press, Taylor and Francis Group) and is the president of Kinetic Tactical Training Solutions LLC. Scott recently retired in January 2020 from the Mercer Island Police Department.
Contributing Author Christopher Fowler
Chris was born and raised in the Puget Sound region. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Washington and a Master’s in Public Administration from Seattle University. Chris also attended the Army War College and was awarded a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies.
After several years on active Duty with the U.S. Army, Chris joined the Seattle Police Department as a patrol officer. He served over 26 years as a Police Officer, working patrol in many neighborhoods throughout the city. Assignments over the years included the downtown Pro-ACT Squad, the SWAT Team, and as a Narcotics detective. He served as the Operations Lieutenant of the South Precinct, in the Professional Standards bureau as an investigator, as the Captain of the Audit, Policy and Research section, the Commander for the West Precinct, and as the Assistant Chief for homeland Security with responsibility for special event planning and demonstration management. He most recently served as the Deputy Chief for operations prior to his retirement in October of 2018.
Chris Fowler was a member of the Washington Army National Guard, where he recently retired as a Brigadier General with over 30 years of service. He has served in two deployments to the Middle East and has commanded at all levels through Brigade Command.
Upon retirement from the Police Department, Chris took a position as the Deputy Director of the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and now works as a consultant on security matters.
Contributing Author William Gage
Bill is a 20 year law enforcement professional. He has served in various federal and local law enforcement roles, including 13 years with the U.S. Secret Service. While in the Secret Service, Bill served on a task force which investigated international terror groups and the distribution of illicit goods. Bill also served 6 years on the elite Counter Assault Team (CAT). Bill is currently a certified law enforcement officer in the Richmond, VA area. Bill has been a Field Training Officer, bike officer, Community Policing Officer, academy instructor and SWAT team member. He has written articles for Police One, Law Officer, SOFREP and Tactical Journal. He holds a B.A. from the Virginia Military Institute, a M.A. from Boston University and is currently a PhD student. When not working, he enjoys the outdoors with his wife, 2 kids and loyal German Shepard Blitz.
Contributing Author Kristopher Perkins
Kris grew up in Oklahoma wrestling from the age of 4. He joined the military in 1990. During his 21 year military career he served as a Weapons Specialist, Forward Observer, Drill Sergeant, Reconnaissance Platoon Sergeant, and Post Combatives Instructor. Kris was one of the original Modern Army Combatives Instructors for the U.S. Army. After retirement he became the Director of Combatives for Fort Hood and III Corps, where he coached the U.S. Army Combatives Champion team three years in a row. Kris also helped develop the Canadian Special Operations Combatives program. Kris has taught combatives to the US Special Forces, Slovakian Special Forces, Polish Special Forces, Canadian Special Forces and Afghan Special Forces and Commandos. Kris is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, Combatives Black Belt, and USA Wrestling Gold level coach.
Contributing Author Matthew Wilson
Matt retired from the United States Army with over 26 years of operational experience as an Army Ranger, Special Forces “Green Beret” and 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta. He has extensive knowledge of Land warfare, Maritime Operation’s, and specializes in overt and covert breaching. Matt’s military assignments and positions include the 75th Ranger Regiment (Squad Leader), 7th Special Forces Group (Team Sergeant) and The United States Army Special Operations Command (Heavy Breacher and Covert Methods of Entry specialist).
Mr. Wilson has extensive knowledge and experience training and instructing in various settings and cultures around the world, to include weapons training, Close Quarter Battle (CQB), while specializing in special activities such as covert/surreptitious entry. Matt utilizes these skill sets to help his clients meet and exceed their needs and goals through consulting and security which can be customized to accommodate any venue and client.
SOC Group is a platform to showcase various verticals of training for not only the military and law enforcement, but to introduce Special Operations methodologies as a parallel strategy to corporate leadership and team building to our civilian communities. SOC Group, Inc. has been strategically aligned to market its capabilities to commercial, federal and international venues to include corporate training, vulnerability assessments (facilities and residential) and advanced party site surveys.
The manual's content is organized into 16 chapters:
Active Shooter Small Unit Doctrine (ASSUD): Author Scott Hyderkhan
Action Plan: Author Scott Hyderkhan
Training Management: Author Scott Hyderkhan
Rescue Task Force (RTF) Operations: Author Scott Hyderkhan
Close Quarter Battle (CQB): Author Scott Hyderkhan
Individual Tasks: Author Scott Hyderkhan
Collective Tasks: Author Scott Hyderkhan
Action Drills: Author Scott Hyderkhan
Combatives: Contributing Author Kristopher Perkins
Progressive Breaching: Contributing Author Matthew Wilson
Facility Clearing and Evacuation: Author Scott Hyderkhan
Command and Control in the Active Shooter Environment: Contributing Author Christopher Fowler
Communications Planning: Author Scott Hyderkhan
Site Threat Mitigation and Response Planning: Contributing Author William Gage
Task Performance Evaluations: Author Scott Hyderkhan
Patrol Special Equipment and Loadout: Author Scott Hyderkhan
Chapter Abstracts
Chapter 1: Active Shooter Small Unit Doctrine (ASSUD)
The ASSUD chapter is a study in the evolution of the active shooter response, the history of attacks to include complex coordinated attacks and analysis of the infantry squad and its development over the history of modern warfare. A comparison of similarities, differences and needs between law enforcement’s mission in the active shooter arena and the infantry squad and its mission was conducted. From this study the Active Shooter Small Unit Doctrine was developed. The doctrine is clear concise and simple. A common phrase we hear in emphasizing effective leadership is “Lead from the front”. This phrase comes from the basic doctrinal concept of team leaders leading from the front in armed conflict. ASSUD utilizes time proven small unit doctrine that is adapted to the needs of modern law enforcement in defeating the full spectrum in the active shooter mission. ASSUD is practical for all agencies, small and large.
Chapter 2: Action Plan
The Action Plan is an overview of the active shooter mission from a commander or administrator’s perspective. It is the execution paragraph of the Active Shooter Mission operation order. The chapter identifies command intent and desired end state as mission information to be disseminated to subordinate leaders and officers. The action plan lays out the concept of the operation and the phases of the operation to include identifying the main effort in the different phases of the operation. Possible subordinate units/element missions are presented with regionalization in mind. The active shooter mission is a regional response.
Chapter 3: Training Management
The training management chapter outlines the 7 principles of training and the core tactical skills training and it’s three phases:
Phase 1: Weekly to monthly small unit task training
Phase 2: Quarterly or semi-annual force on force training
Phase 3. Semi Annual or annual Live Fire Exercise (LFX) training
The core tactical skills are:
Critical individual task.
Collective tasks.
Action Drills.
The chapter also emphasizes that the active shooter mission is a regional response and thus requires a regional centralization of tactics, with all agency cadre trained by regionally calibrated cadre.
Chapter 4: Rescue Task Force (RTF) Operations
The RTF chapter is a detailed and diagramed template of a generic RTF operation. All components of an RTF operation are explained. Tactics techniques and procedures in conducting an RTF operation are explored. A concept of the operation/scheme of maneuver is also given. Emphasis is again placed on regionalization.
Chapter 5: Close Quarter Battle (CQB)
This chapter outlines the three principals (Surprise, speed and violence of action) and the fundamentals of CQB.
Chapter 6: Individual Tasks
In this chapter critical individual tasks in tactical policing are identified and outlined in Task, Conditions and Standards format, with clearly defined subtasks. Additionally, the chapter is reinforced by 8 individual task training videos in the video training library that is 50% discounted by the voucher code in the manual and can be purchased on the video training library page.
Chapter 7: Collective Tasks
Is a list of collective tasks that was developed by studying the active shooter mission. All patrol missions that require more than a single officer, requires supporting collective tasks. The active shooter mission is the most complex patrol tactical mission. Therefore, it has the largest collective task list. Tactical missions in patrol operations include such missions as traffic stop, high risk traffic stop, barricaded subject, etc. All of these missions, to include the active shooter mission share common collective tasks and common tactical doctrine. Therefore, when we train on collective tasks, we are training and preparing for an array of missions that patrol officers must be able to perform. In this chapter the collective tasks list is outlined in the task conditions and standards model and have detailed, yet simple subtasks. Additionally, the chapter is reinforced by 6 lesson plans in the video training library.
Chapter 8: Action Drills
Defines maneuver and explains the relationship between movement and maneuver. The chapter also identifies and explains the 4 components of maneuver (Find, Fix, Finish and Follow through). The chapter further explains why actions on contact and action drills are the key to success in small unit fighting. Small unit fighting is drill based, based on that fact, detailed templates on actions on contact and the 10 action drills is provided, supplemented by 13 lesson plans in the video training library, further detailing each drill.
Chapter 9: Combatives
Is an introduction to developing a hand to hand program for a law enforcement agency. What skills and secondary skills are developed when officers start training in hand to hand. Officers develop a skillset that develops confidence, and the ability to efficiently handle a threat in a hand to hand situation. Officers that are untrained, have limited training, or are given watered down training, will not only be at higher risk in hand to hand situations, their response will give an outward appearance of being excessive. The basic foundation movements are described in a step by step method. The basic fight plan of closing the gap, gaining dominant position, and controlling the situation are explained.
Chapter 10: Progressive Breaching
Progressive Breaching outlines the sequential process of breaching. The purpose and basic tenets of progressive breaching are covered along with the use of a primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency (PACE) plan in breaching. The chapter is oriented to SWAT/Special units and patrol divisions.
Chapter 11: Facility Clearing and Evacuation
Facility Clearing and Evacuation, is dedicated to the process of clearing and evacuating a facility directly following the neutralization of an active shooter and at or near the conclusion of rescue task force operations. In this chapter the procedure of clearing the facility and the search and evacuation of civilian personnel are outlined in great detail and include the utilization of small unit elements with attached K-9 explosive detection and Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) units.
Chapter 12: Command and Control in the Active Shooter Environment
Command and Control, Logistics, Mutual Aid, and Investigative Command considerations introduces command and control philosophies and principles, discusses the critical importance of establishing clear command during a critical active shooter incident, and how to implement these principles. It also analyzes priorities in establishing logistical support for initial and on-going logistics in support of these critical incidents. A discussion of mutual aid support at the Federal, State, and local level related to expected deployment and support provided follows, with some final considerations on how to integrate the investigative resources into the post scene environment.
Chapter 13: Communications Planning
Communications planning is dedicated to planning both strategically and tactically a communications plan that can support agencies and regions in an Active Shooter or Complex Coordinated Attack. The strategic communication plan section addresses coverage, capacity and capability and how to ensure your technology not only covers day to day operations, but is capable of supporting operations in emergency situations. The tactical communications planning portion of the chapter presents a templated operational plan that addresses the grouping of talk groups to specific efforts, number of elements per channel and call signs for projected leadership. The chapter and template provides a starting point in communications planning.
Chapter 14: Site Threat Mitigation and Response Planning
Site Threat Mitigation and Response Planning, is dedicated to the conduct of threat assessments and preplanning the response to an Active Shooter or a Complex Coordinated Attack. First, the chapter demonstrates the Security Protocol Assessment and Review (SPAR) as a model and template for Threat Assessment. The SPAR provides an organized structured process in identifying risk, vulnerabilities and measures to mitigate them. The chapter then addresses Response Planning, by providing insight to position selection for the array of elements and support responding to an Active Shooter or Complex Coordinated Attack. The SPAR template and position planning guidance assists in the objective of transforming soft high valued targets into less desirable ones and positioning tactical and logistical support elements that facilitates command and control in the goal of mission success.
Chapter 15: Task Performance Evaluations
Performance Evaluations provides leaders, trainers and administrators with an evaluation tool to measure small unit proficiency in the active shooter mission. We’ve broken down the active shooter mission into 4 evaluation phases: Assess, Assemble and Execute a Mechanical Breach; Move in Hallways as a Squad; Move in Stairwells as a Squad; Execute Actions on Contact and Action Drill. The evaluations maybe used in the full spectrum of training, from large agency or regional exercises, down to phase evaluations conducted during informal training. The evaluations reinforce speed, violence of action, momentum and the concept of squad movement and its relationship with maneuver. All training should be evaluated and all training should be performed until the set standard is achieved. Performance standards within the evaluations are results based. This allows the use of the array of tactics techniques and procedures agencies may employ.
Chapter 16: Patrol Special Equipment and Loadout
Patrol Special Equipment and Loadout, addresses equipment fielding that will assist in successfully confronting an active shooter/complex coordinated attack. The chapter addresses force protection; weapons, ammunition and carry; breaching tools and carry.