Get Your Guard Up: 3 Important Steps for Active Attacker Defense
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Union Fowlkes Auditorium
Address: Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS
Organizer: Emergency Management
Category: Campus
This interactive training course equips Mississippi State University students, faculty, and staff with the knowledge and strategies needed to respond effectively during an active attacker event. Based on the nationally recognized Avoid | Deny | Defend (A.D.D.) model developed by the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center, the course emphasizes proactive decision-making and personal safety. Participants will learn how to: Avoid danger by recognizing threats early and quickly moving to safety, Deny access by securing their location to slow or prevent an attacker's entry, and Defend themselves as a last resort, using physical resistance when necessary. The training includes realistic scenarios, discussion, and practical steps tailored to the university environment. By the end of the session, attendees will feel more confident in their ability to react decisively and protect themselves and others in a critical incident.