Three dead plus a dead shooter aboard NAS Pensacola

Six Saudis are arrested over Pensacola naval base shooting including three who FILMED the attack by countryman who killed three and wounded eight before being shot dead - as FBI probes terror link
The Daily Mail ^ | Friday, Dec 6th 2019 | Andrew Court and Snejana Farberov

* Shooting took place on base early Friday morning, sparking a lockdown.
* Sources identified the suspected gunman as Saudi Air Force aviation student Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani.
* As of Friday evening, six Saudi nationals have been detained for questioning.
* It's reported that three of them filmed the shooting as it happened.
* Rep Matt Gaetz, a Republican representing Pensacola, called the shooting 'an act of terrorism'.

Not that I believe everything I read in the press, but if true- this is concerning.
 
Take the Daily Mail with a lot of grains of salt. They are a tabloid in the strictest sense of the word. They print just enough of the facts to make things sound plausable.
 
Big discussion on CNN and FOX tv saying the same. I’m just sick. Hitting my Mid hard they were friends. This has far reaching tentacles....sad on the yard.
 
Though this has been discussed here on SAF before, I want to describe the Navy Casualty Assistance Calls Program for the benefit of parents of applicants who are thinking appalled thoughts of their daughters and sons possibly being in the same situation down the road. Sadly, In our country today, these shootings happen in schools, at clubs, in movie theaters, stores and other work and public places. And military bases. None of us are 100% safe from violence.

The military is expert and takes very seriously the notification of next of kin and handling of all arrangements and details. When a military member passes away, a Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO) is assigned, both at the command where the member is attached, and one geographically assigned to help with NOK notification. The notification CACO will go with a military chaplain, in person, in service dress blue uniform, to the NOK home as soon as possible. Sadly, social media today often beats the in-person team. That CACO serves as the family’s liaison with their service member’s Command, answering questions, helping to coordinate the arrangements for the body and personal effects, remaining pay and allowances, death benefits, SGLI, and anything the family needs help with. That is the CACO’s sole and solemn duty. Back at the command, the CACO and designated staff there will inventory personal effects, coordinate with military personnel and pay office, and work with the CACO with the family. The body will be escorted with all care given to safe and respectful transport by a uniformed escort. The CACO will work with family to represent their wishes for a memorial service and assist them if they travel to the duty station. The CACO’s services extend after final disposition of the body to help in any way possible.

All the services have something similar, by slightly different names. It is the nature of military business that being experienced and good at handling casualty cases is part of the military culture.

At various times in my career, I was a collateral duty CACP geographic coordinator (assigning CACOs and chaplains when the casualty’s NOK was geographically distant from the duty station), collateral duty Command CACO Coordinator (I and my LDO Admin LCDR did this at the Navy Staff for 9/11 at the Pentagon), and as a CACO several times. I am still in touch with the family of a USNA grad for whom I was a CACO in CA as a young LT. A year after the funeral, the mother called me. She still had not opened the boxes of her daughter’s uniforms shipped home, and she didn’t know what to do with them. I took care of that for her, and together we took the flag that had been presented to the family, along with her rank insignia, ribbons and a few other things, to a shadow box maker who was “the guy” at my duty station who made these. Serving as a CACO was one of the most rewarding and solemn duties of my career, and I know many other posters here shared that experience.

My purpose in describing this feeling of family and care for the fallen, is to assure non-military-experienced family members of candidates aspiring to military service, that despite its many flaws, the military will gather as a family to do the right thing.

And if you have never watched the movie, “Taking Chance,” a 2009 docudrama, with Kevin Bacon, do so.
 
I am sure the military does the notification and support to family very well. I pray that I never have to deal with this.

I question why we allow SA and other terrorist countries in if we can’t vet them properly.

It’s time to realize the enemy of our enemy isn’t our friend.
 
Capt MJ said:
Though this has been discussed here on SAF before, I want to describe the Navy Casualty Assistance Calls Program for the benefit of parents of applicants who are thinking appalled thoughts of their daughters and sons possibly being in the same situation down the road. Sadly, In our country today, these shootings happen in schools, at clubs, in movie theaters, stores and other work and public places. And military bases. None of us are 100% safe from violence.

The military is expert and takes very seriously the notification of next of kin and handling of all arrangements and details. When a military member passes away, a Casualty Assistance Calls Officer (CACO) is assigned, both at the command where the member is attached, and one geographically assigned to help with NOK notification. The notification CACO will go with a military chaplain, in person, in service dress blue uniform, to the NOK home as soon as possible. Sadly, social media today often beats the in-person team. That CACO serves as the family’s liaison with their service member’s Command, answering questions, helping to coordinate the arrangements for the body and personal effects, remaining pay and allowances, death benefits, SGLI, and anything the family needs help with. That is the CACO’s sole and solemn duty. Back at the command, the CACO and designated staff there will inventory personal effects, coordinate with military personnel and pay office, and work with the CACO with the family. The body will be escorted with all care given to safe and respectful transport by a uniformed escort. The CACO will work with family to represent their wishes for a memorial service and assist them if they travel to the duty station. The CACO’s services extend after final disposition of the body to help in any way possible.

All the services have something similar, by slightly different names. It is the nature of military business that being experienced and good at handling casualty cases is part of the military culture.

At various times in my career, I was a collateral duty CACP geographic coordinator (assigning CACOs and chaplains when the casualty’s NOK was geographically distant from the duty station), collateral duty Command CACO Coordinator (I and my LDO Admin LCDR did this at the Navy Staff for 9/11 at the Pentagon), and as a CACO several times. I am still in touch with the family of a USNA grad for whom I was a CACO in CA as a young LT. A year after the funeral, the mother called me. She still had not opened the boxes of her daughter’s uniforms shipped home, and she didn’t know what to do with them. I took care of that for her, and together we took the flag that had been presented to the family, along with her rank insignia, ribbons and a few other things, to a shadow box maker who was “the guy” at my duty station who made these. Serving as a CACO was one of the most rewarding and solemn duties of my career, and I know many other posters here shared that experience.

My purpose in describing this feeling of family and care for the fallen, is to assure non-military-experienced family members of candidates aspiring to military service, that despite its many flaws, the military will gather as a family to do the right thing.

And if you have never watched the movie, “Taking Chance,” a 2009 docudrama, with Kevin Bacon, do so.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this description @Capt MJ. My son served as a CACO at Norfolk and was honored to be selected for that duty. One of the hats I wear in civilian life is teaching Death Notification and Victim Advocacy to law enforcement personnel. I can say that without a doubt, the Navy gets this right. Their training is good, and their follow-up is excellent. Of course I pray I am never on the receiving end of a notification, but I am comforted by knowing I am part of the Navy family. Thank you to all who take on this duty.
 
One of the hardest things in the world is to stand at a front door with a chaplain and knowing on the other side of the door are people whose hearts will break by what you have to tell them.

Theoretically, the military won’t release names until identity confirmed and NOK officially notified.

These days, someone at the scene texts family the names of the deceased, and then some people head straight to FB with condolences to the family members - what a horrific jolt to get the news that way. I am sure the gag order went out right away, but some humans can’t resist sharing without thinking of potential impact.
 
Capt MJ said:
The Saudis should be hugely embarrassed, assuming they cleared this officer to attend training.
Click to expand...

Sadly, embarrassment is the most MBS, Mohamed Bone Saw, has ever or will ever feel.

Of course the Saudis cleared them. Joining the Saudi Military as an officer and receiving training in Europe or the US isn't exactly a result of meritocratic competition. The question is to what extent they were cleared by the US. And HTF does this guy have a gun.

Capt MJ said:
Wonder if the families can sue for civil reparations. No doubt lawyers are already thinking about that.
Click to expand...

Good Question. Pan Am 103 victims families were able to sue the Libyan Government as the crime was committed by Libyan gov't agents. Sept 11 victims and families have sued in US court to no resolution as of yet as Saudi Government claims that the bombers were not Saudi gov't agents.

I'll bet dollars to doughnuts, they are already calculating up how much compensation they will pay, thinking that it will make up for pain of the families which will never go away. Apparently it can back home in SA.

Google the term "Diya" for its application in countries, like SA, practice sharia law.
 
They arrested several Saudis in the area, three of whom were supposedly filming the aftermath. I wouldn't be surprised to find the shooter was radicalized after arriving here which might explain the long wait since he arrived. We'll have to see.

I've watched "Taking Chance" several times and highly recommend it. Have tissues handy.
 
Last edited:
Last edited:
My son said he thinks he met Josh during Plebe summer as a TAD helping with workouts.

He taught wrestling to the plebes.
 
Last edited:
I originally agreed with the Saudi statement which was they cant be responsible for the actions of all their people. What a Saudi does in the US or Italy cant be the responsibility of his or her country. However, someone posted that since the killer is part of the Saudi Royal Air Force and that changes it. I agree, since the killer was an employee of the Saudi government and a representative of the Saudi government, they should be financially and politically responsible for the deaths. As for the Saudi pilots themselves, my son flew with one during UPT. He started out in an earlier class, but was way behind and put into my son's class. He got behind again and eventually sent back to Saudi Arabia. I doubt that is the standard practice. Most graduate no matter what. I am sure they have good and bad pilots, but I think overall they aren't the brightest bulbs in the box. They do love to smoke. What i am confuse by is why they are being trained by the Navy. Why wouldn't they be trained by the Air Force. It isnt like the Saudi Royal Navy has aircraft carriers. Or is the US military just spreading out the Saudi pilots through the UPT system. In any case its a terrible shame. I read up about the Naval Academy graduate who was waiting for his UPT class to start. I cant even imagine what his parents are going through.
 
Some of the fallout that you don't hear....Those that were in the building still don't have their wallets, phones, personal items, etc... returned to them. They've had their cars impounded.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top