FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- To kick off the fourth annual Antiterrorism Awareness Month today, a top antiterrorism official here took time to explain that Fort Drum's continued security requires the persistent vigilance of every individual on post.
"Soldiers, Family Members, Civilians and contractors are really another set of eyes and ears out there," said Bill Ladd, installation antiterrorism officer at Fort Drum.
Ladd, who earlier this year helped Fort Drum bring home the Army's top award for Best Antiterrorism Program (large installation), said community members who notice anything out of the ordinary during their daily routines may provide authorities with important clues.
He called them law enforcement's best "sensors" in the calculus of force protection.
"Being a 'sensor' means being aware of your surroundings," he said. "It means identifying any suspicious activity in your community and reporting it."
Antiterrorism Awareness Month, which occurs every August to precede the anniversary of 9/11, was created to remind people that the terrorist threat is real and vigilance is vital.
In addition to stressing the importance of awareness for all Army professionals, on and off duty, the annual observance ensures the entire Army community is involved.
Much of the campaign centers around a simple phrase: "See something, say something," a slogan of the Army's neighborhood terror-watch program called iWATCH ARMY. The program not only aims to heighten public awareness but also to encourage people to report suspicious activity.
At Fort Drum, tidbits reported to 774-8477 (TIPS) may bring a murky picture into greater focus, Ladd said, which could potentially lead authorities to thwart criminal activity and terrorist plots.
The "say something" part of iWATCH gives authorities an opportunity to investigate and determine whether or not a threat exists, he explained.
"That little piece of information may just be a piece to a puzzle," Ladd said. "The license plate of a suspicious vehicle reported here may have been involved in other suspicious activity someplace else, and it's tied together.
"You may think it's 'nothing,'" he added. "Still, report it. There are professionals who are trained to know for sure."
In addition to involving the community, effective antiterrorism programs integrate the defensive measures of law enforcement, physical security and operations security, with a focus on critical facilities, through random antiterrorism measures (RAM), gate reconfigurations and other activities.
A recent RAM installed at Fort Drum is the SkyWatch surveillance towers that act as observation posts high above traffic and gate structures.
Also, permanent and mobile blast shields were installed a few months ago as a protective measure near the gates.
When it comes to operations, Ladd said a special "Threat Information Fusion Cell" at Fort Drum pieces together information with organizations on post, including the Directorate of Emergency Services, Criminal Investigation Command and the 902nd Military Intelligence, who then share intelligence with outside authorities, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security.
Since the bombings at the Boston Marathon in April, Defense Department antiterrorism measures have an increased focus on what preparations are made for large-scale public events, such as last month's Mountainfest on post, while maintaining the individual awareness component and other key aspects of the program, Ladd said.
Also, with mass shootings making headlines again this year, especially the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, Ladd noted that special AT awareness training is scheduled throughout August to focus on active-shooter scenarios.
The four special AT awareness sessions will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 13, 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 14, 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 19 and 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 28 at the Multipurpose Auditorium. Attendance at any of the four sessions will satisfy the annual training requirements for antiterrorism.
In addition, Ladd said he plans to offer specialized instruction to family readiness personnel over the next month.
A culminating event will take place Sept. 5 involving an active-shooter exercise on Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield.
"People should not only think of (active-shooter) situations on post," Ladd said. "If they are at the mall, a special event in Syracuse, on leave, wherever -- antiterrorism isn't just for when you are on duty."
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