By Reporter staff

The Jewish Federation of Greater Binghamton will hold the security program “Countering Active Threat Training” on Tuesday, June 6, at 6 pm, at the Jewish Community Center, 500 Clubhouse Rd., Vestal. There is no charge for the program. Mark Henderson, the director of community security for the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester, will lead the session. The training is open to the entire community. To register for the event, click here.

The Countering Active Threat Training is a comprehensive training program that teaches how to counter an active threat event. It was developed for faith-based institutions and houses of worship. Its learning objectives include: 

• Learning to know when there is an active threat. 
• Understanding the difference between security and safety.
• Developing a better understanding of active threat incidents.
• Explaining appropriate modes of action to use during an active shooter incident, including “run, hide, fight.”
• Understanding how to prepare for an active threat event.
• How to respond to law enforcement’s arrival.
• Recognizing the importance of additional trainings such as “Stop the Bleed.”
• Being able to commit to action during an active threat event

Henderson has been coordinating security trainings with help from the Secure Community Network, the national Homeland Security initiative of the Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations. “As we have seen recently in the news, active threats have occurred in several locations, including Jewish synagogues, Chabad Houses and community gatherings,” Henderson said. “Being prepared and having training on how best to counter an active threat may be the difference between surviving the incident or not. Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, TX, credited Secure Community Network Countering Active Threat Training as instrumental to his and fellow hostages surviving an 11-hour hostage situation. I encourage every community member to attend this training.” 

“Join us for this very important program,” said Shelley Hubal, executive director of the Federation. “This training is part of the Federation’s commitment to help keep our community safe.”