JACKSONVILLE -- Officials aboard Camp Lejeune exercised Operation Urgent Response on Wednesday to practice their procedures in the event of an active shooter situation on base.
The scenario took place inside of Brewster Middle School where the shooters held hostages inside of the classrooms.
"This is our way of making sure that we don't forget some of those basic scenario skills," said Maj. Adam Mckillop. "Coming to an unknown area, we don't go inside the school very often and actually looking at the ground, taking a look at how everything is laid out and making decisions instantly and executing those decisions."
Camp Johnson Marines played the role of the students inside the school.
EMS workers then staged a triage outside to treat the injured patients. Officials say executing a fast response is key during these situations.
"Especially in an active shooter scenario, every minute is more lives at stake," said Maj. Mckillop. "That active shooter is constantly shooting at somebody, so we want to make sure we stop that as soon as possible. So quick response, mass response, is our end goal."
The drill continued at the Naval Hospital on base where patients were being taken. This portion of the drill tested the hospital's ability to receive and treat multiple patients at once
The EMS director says the hospital is always ready and prepared in the event of a real-life scenario.
"They were flexible. They reacted well. They were also proactive in anticipating casualties and anticipating logistical issues," said Lt. Commander Joseph Katora.
The exercise also tested mass notification with the community as well as the school's lockdown procedures.
Marine officials say they practice these full scale scenarios annually and execute portions of the plan quarterly.
"We live in a world where things are uncertain, and we have to practice things that we don't want to practice or hope never happen. But if they do happen, we need to be ready," said Col. Nicholas Davis.
Operation Urgent Response was the first active shooter exercise to be conducted in a school in nearly three years.