Fort Stewart Shooting Highlights Persisting Internal Security Concerns for US Military Personnel

The 3rd Infantry Division, a formidable fighting force with approximately 20,000 soldiers, is based at Fort Stewart in Georgia. On Wednesday, an active-duty sergeant from the division’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team allegedly opened fire within the unit’s headquarters, wounding five fellow soldiers.

The event highlights the vulnerability of military personnel to internal threats, as no amount of physical security can completely safeguard them against such incidents, according to security experts. Robert Capovilla, a former military prosecutor and partner at a law firm representing current and former service members, stated, “I just don’t think there’s any way to ever prepare for every single possible insider threat.”

The shooting has reignited concerns about the safety of American service members at bases where they live, train, and work. The frequency of such incidents provides little comfort to victims and their families, given the severity of their impact.

Nichole Hillman, whose husband Nathan, an Army sergeant with the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, was killed by another soldier at Fort Stewart in 2022, described Wednesday’s shooting as “terrifying and completely heartbreaking.” She told CNN via Facebook Messenger that it brought back painful memories and fear from one of the worst days of her life.

“Our soldiers should not have to fear going to work. They should be able to know 100% for a fact they are safe,” Hillman added.

Following a series of deadly mass shootings at American bases, the military has mandated active shooter and “insider threat” training. In 2009, a shooting at Fort Hood Army post in Texas resulted in 13 deaths, an unborn child, and over 30 injuries.

At Fort Stewart on Wednesday, unarmed soldiers responded to the sound of gunshots by running towards the source and tackling the suspect, thereby subduing him and halting the shooting. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll praised their bravery, stating that their actions prevented a more severe outcome.

Driscoll also pledged to take action on any findings from the investigation that could enhance safety at Fort Stewart and other similar bases. He emphasized the constant review of security protocols at all military bases to prevent such incidents from happening again.

Last year, Fort Stewart’s military police conducted an active shooter and hostage rescue exercise as part of routine drills at US military bases. These drills cover procedures for before, during, and after an active shooter incident. On Wednesday, Fort Stewart was placed on lockdown.

Cedric Leighton, a retired Air Force colonel and CNN military analyst, noted that the base’s quick response showed that they had practiced such events, and their procedures were effective in minimizing the impact of the active shooter incident.

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear. The suspect, identified as Quornelius Samentrio Radford, is said to have had a disagreement with one of the victims on Tuesday. He allegedly followed this coworker to a maintenance area and shot him in the chest before wounding four others on Wednesday. The nature of the dispute is unknown.

Authorities responded at 10:56 a.m. ET, according to a Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airfield Facebook post. Less than ten minutes later, the base was locked down. Emergency personnel attended to the victims at 11:09 a.m., the post stated.

The unarmed soldiers who intervened prevented further casualties by tackling Radford, enabling police to arrest him. Their actions were described as handling the situation like a “battle drill.”

Active shooter training teaches soldiers what to do before, during, and after shootings, including helping others evacuate, not moving the wounded, creating barricades, and using whatever means necessary to overpower the assailant to save lives. Military bases have strict regulations on the possession and storage of personal weapons.

Capovilla questioned whether allowing soldiers to carry their personal firearms with them while they worked could prevent incidents like the one at Fort Stewart. He noted that military personnel living and working on military installations are generally in highly secure and safe facilities.

The shooting at Fort Hood in 2009, carried out by an Army psychiatrist with radical Islamist beliefs, forced the military to reevaluate not just the tactical-level response but also the processes and systems in place for the Department of Defense as a whole. After Fort Hood, the military reassessed its risk assessment process to consider both internal and external threats.

A significant part of the training involves teaching service members to identify behaviors in colleagues that could be early warning signs of a potential “insider threat.” The risk indicators range from declining performance ratings to demotions, from threats of violence to suicidal ideation to criminal behavior.

Authorities have not speculated about Radford’s motives. He had not been deployed to a combat zone and had no known behavioral incidents on his military record, according to Fort Stewart’s senior commander, Brig. Gen. John Lubas. The general acknowledged that Radford was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence in May. Radford’s chain of command was unaware of the arrest prior to Wednesday’s shooting, Lubas added.

Radford’s father, Eddie Radford, told The New York Times he had not noticed unusual behavior by his son recently. He did not know what might have motivated the shooting but said his son had complained about racism at Fort Stewart and was seeking a transfer, according to the Times, which did not cite any specifics. CNN has reached out to Eddie Radford for more information.

Fort Stewart declined to comment on the racism allegation and whether Radford had requested a transfer. A spokesperson for the 3rd Infantry Division told CNN that “the circumstances leading to the events today are currently under investigation.”

Authorities are unsure how Radford obtained his personal firearm through Fort Stewart’s high security before carrying out the shooting, although personnel with authorized access are typically not searched en masse unless an installation has increased its security posture in response to potential threats. Carrying personal firearms on base is usually prohibited.

Capovilla expressed difficulty enforcing good order and discipline if soldiers were allowed to carry their personal weapons with them at all times from a company, battalion, or brigade commander’s perspective.

Radford reportedly texted his relatives 20 minutes before the shooting began, telling them he loved them and had tried his hardest to be the best he could be. Radford’s military career started in 2018. Around the same time, he allegedly started being bullied over his stutter, according to two former coworkers. Sneh Patel, an attorney who represented Radford during his DUI case, also confirmed that Radford “has a stuttering condition.”