Sign in Subscribe
Soldiers

Active Shooter Attacks on US Military Bases Raise Questions About Safety

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The latest act of violence on a US military base, in which a 28-year-old active-duty Army sergeant is accused of shooting and wounding five of his fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart in Georgia, highlights concerns about the safety of American servicemembers. This incident is the latest in a string of attacks on US military bases, including the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, the 2013 Washington Navy Yard shooting, and the 2019 Pearl Harbor and Pensacola Naval Air Station shootings. Despite rigorous preparation and drills, such as the simulated active-shooter and hostage-rescue scenario conducted at Fort Stewart last year, the threat of violence remains.

Key Takeaways:

  • In the past decade, there have been numerous high-profile attacks on US military bases, resulting in the deaths of at least 37 people and injuries to many more.
  • The 2009 Fort Hood shooting, carried out by US Army Major Nidal Malik Hasan, was the deadliest attack on a US military base, resulting in the deaths of 13 people and the wounding of over 30 others.
  • The 2013 Washington Navy Yard shooting, in which 12 people were killed and eight others wounded, was carried out by Aaron Alexis, a defense contractor and Navy reservist who believed he was being influenced by "extremely low-frequency electromagnetic waves."
  • The 2019 Pearl Harbor and Pensacola Naval Air Station shootings were motivated by jihadist ideology, with the attacker, Mohammed Alshamrani, having longtime ties to al Qaeda and communicating with operatives as recently as the night before the attack.
  • The attacks on US military bases have sparked concerns about the safety of American servicemembers and the effectiveness of security measures in place.
  • The Fort Stewart shooting is the latest reminder that even the most rigorous preparation and drills cannot ensure complete safety, and that further measures must be taken to prevent such attacks.

Statistics:

  • Between 2009 and 2019, there were at least 37 deaths and many more injuries resulting from high-profile attacks on US military bases.
  • The Fort Hood shooting in 2009 was the deadliest attack on a US military base, resulting in the deaths of 13 people and the wounding of over 30 others.
  • The Washington Navy Yard shooting in 2013 resulted in the deaths of 12 people and the wounding of eight others.
  • The Pearl Harbor and Pensacola Naval Air Station shootings in 2019 resulted in the deaths of two Defense Department civilian workers and injured a third, with the attacker taking his own life.
  • Since 2009, at least 10 active shooters have carried out attacks on US military bases, resulting in the deaths of at least 37 people and injuries to many more.

Sources:

  • CNN: "Active-duty Army sergeant accused of shooting 5 fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart"
  • CNN: "Fort Hood shooting: What we know about the deadliest attack on a US military base"
  • Washington Post: "Aaron Alexis: The Navy Yard shooter's delusional world"
  • Associated Press: "No motive found in Pearl Harbor shooting, but gunman was dissatisfied with commanders"
  • FBI: "Department of Justice Labels Pensacola Naval Air Station Attack as "An Act of Terrorism"

Read more