HomeNewsArticle Display

AtHoc system capabilities expanded at Tinker

  • Published
  • By John Parker
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Tinker Air Force Base's emergency mass notification system recently upgraded a possibly life-saving capability to warn personnel about military-related active shooter incidents within a 100-mile radius of the base.  
The Advanced Technology Helping Organizations Communicate (AtHoc), Emergency Mass Notification System delivers pop-up warnings and vital emergency information to the desktop computers, email address and via phone call/text message of more than 24,500 Tinker users.
Tinker Air Force Base officials recently became responsible for notifying all Department of Defense personnel within a 100-mile radius about military-related active shooter emergencies.
Late last year, the DOD ordered selected military installations to expand active shooter alerts in response to the July 16, 2015, terrorist attack in Chattanooga, Tenn., said Master Sgt. Troy Sahai, superintendent of the Tinker AFB Command Post. Four Marines at a recruiting center and a Sailor at another location were killed.
The upgraded system was tested this week as part of Tinker's annual tornado and emergency response exercises. The enhanced alert will encompass military facilities ranging from recruiting stations, National Guard locations, Vance AFB in Enid and the Army's Fort Sill in Lawton.
Sergeant Sahai encouraged current users to revisit their AtHoc profile contact information to ensure they are up to date. Approximately 1,900 users have active AtHoc accounts, but haven't provided their basic information, such as a smartphone number and email address. Without these details, the system can't send vital warnings to them, Sergeant Sahai said.
"It's very important that we keep encouraging users to load their information on the AtHoc system," the sergeant said. "At the end of the day, this is designed to help save lives. When it really counts, in the situation of an active shooter or a tornado, we want to ensure the safety of all Team Tinker members."  One change approved by Col Wilson, was to cut back on the amount of routine weather notifications being transmitted via the AtHoc email.  Users will only receive a desktop pop notification for situations such as, HEATCON and Frostbite change. 
The sergeant and Col. Stephanie Wilson, 72d ABW Tinker AFB installation commander, encourage current and new users to update their AtHoc information profiles and download the AtHoc Notifier app on their phones. The Apple App Store and Google Play carry the app. One .mil email address can cover up to 10 family members for emergency-only notifications.
For authorized military network users, the AtHoc "purple globe" icon can be found by clicking on the triangular "show hidden icons" button on the lower-right part of most desktop screens.
After right-clicking on the globe, users can select "access self-service," choose "my profile" and click on the edit icon to change or add information. New users can sign up the same way.
For questions or assistance with the AtHoc system, personnel can call the command post at 734-7313, Sergeant Sahai said.