Fort Belvoir - - Global terrorism threats continue to plague the world and help focus participants' attention during the Joint Force Headquarters - National Capital Region's Antiterrorism Officer Basic Course held Aug. 5 - 9 at Fort Belvoir, Va.
The course is sponsored by JFHQ-NCR once a year and is taught by the U.S. Army Military Police School Mobile Training Team. It provides Antiterrorism Officers (ATO) the skills and knowledge required to advise their leadership regarding antiterrorism (AT) activities as well as have the ability to provide AT awareness training to their organizations.
"The Antiterrorism Officer plays a critical role in the success of an organization's AT program," said Col. Jesse D. Galvan, the JFHQ-NCR and the U.S. Army Military District of Washington Provost Marshal. "The key to a secure installation or facility is an aggressive anti-terrorism program that incorporates threat awareness, threat mitigation, and reduces or eliminates procedures, practices or physical security deficiencies that make us vulnerable to attack."
The Army's AT program protects personnel, information, and facilities in all locations and situations against terrorist activities. August is the Army's AT Awareness Month and is an effort to instill Army-wide heightened awareness and vigilance to protect Army communities from acts of terrorism.
This year AT Awareness Month focuses on priority areas such as recognizing and reporting suspicious activity, the use of social media to support community outreach, and Army law enforcement as a critical enabler for the protection our communities.
In support of the Army's Antiterrorism month, the JFHQ-NCR/MDW Provost Marshal/Protection Directorate will set up an information display in the foyer of building 39, Fort Lesley J. McNair, on Aug. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
"A credible and effective AT program is always focused on the protection of our people and those things or places that are critical to the success of our mission," said Galvan. "This is not an easy task and it requires vigilance and a commitment to carrying out the duties and responsibilities that come with being an ATO."
The AT Officers at each of the organizations affiliated with the JFHQ-NCR/MDW are listed below:
JFHQ-NCR/MDW Provost Marshal/Protection Directorate -- Mr. Marvin C. Solomon
Fort AP Hill -- Mr. Jerry Bennett
Fort Belvoir -- Mr. Darrell Wade
Fort Hamilton -- Mr. Jose Colon
Fort Meade -- Mr. Mark George
Joint Base Myer - Henderson Hall -- Ms. Shari Dixon
Army Air Operations Group -- Ms. Heather Ellis
Joint Air Defense Operations Center -- MAJ Kimberly Achey
Joint Personal Property shipping Office, Washington Area -- SSG Jeffrey Castanon
The U.S. Army Band -- SFC Francisco Hernandez
3d Infantry Regiment -- 1LT John Nielsen
White House Transportation Agency -- SFC Anthony Alexander
Antiterrorism awareness empowers the entire Army (units, leaders, Soldiers, Department of Army civilians, families, and contractors) to take prevention measures and encourages each individual to serve as a "sensor" -- continuously aware of and reporting suspicious activity.
Related Links:
Senior Leader Tri-signed Letter: 2013 antiterrorism Awareness Message
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