Senior Army leaders have designated August as Antiterrorism
Awareness Month with the slogan “see something, say something.” The purpose is to heighten vigilance and
increase understanding to protect Army personnel from acts of terrorism.
Throughout
the month, Soldiers, government employees, family members and others will have
opportunities to further educate themselves on antiterrorism measures with help
from the Wilmington District Security office.
“Every member of USACE plays an important
role in preventing terrorist acts,” said Lt. Gen. Thomas Bostick, Chief of
Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). “By understanding the
indicators of potential terrorist activities and reporting suspicious behavior
to military police or local law enforcement, our community members enhance and
extend USACE’s protection posture.”
The terrorist threat remains real. According to a recent article by the Heritage
Foundation, there have been 60 terrorist plots against the United States since
9/11. Of the 60 plots, 49 could be
considered homegrown terror plots. This means that one or more of the actors
were American citizens, legal permanent residents, or visitors radicalized
predominately in the United States. Their
research of media reports and court documents shows that military facilities
were the number one target in these plots, followed by New York City and places
with mass gatherings, such as the Boston Marathon, nightclubs and bars, and
shopping malls.
While four plots were successful, and three
foiled merely by luck or the swift action of private citizens, the rest were
thwarted in their early stages by U.S., and sometimes international, law
enforcement, the Heritage Foundation reports.
“Preventing terrorism does not require
special training,” said Wilmington District’s Chief of Security. “Anyone can
contribute to antiterrorism by observing their surroundings and reporting
suspicious or unusual activities.”
Suspicious or unusual activities include:
•People asking
security-related questions
•Unfamiliar individuals in
secure areas
•Loitering
•Unauthorized photography of
military facilities, sensitive areas or access control points
•Unattended briefcases,
suitcases, backpacks or packages
•Unattended cars left in
parking lots, no-parking zones or in front of important buildings.
Prompt
and detailed reporting of suspicious activities can help prevent terrorist
attacks. Awareness is critical. For information on suspicious activity
reporting, go to www.dhs.gov/how-do-i/report-suspicious-activity.