"If you see something, say something." August is the Army wide antiterrorism awareness month.
Fort Leonard Wood's Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Antiterrorism and Force Protection offices are stressing the importance of every person being aware of their surroundings.
The overall intent behind having a month dedicated to awarness is to encourage and keep a command-wide awareness and vigilance. The goal is to prevent and protect the command's work force worldwide and critical resources from acts of terrorism, according to the U.S. Army website.
The first line of defense in preventing terrorist attacks is using individual protective measures.
"(Situational) Awareness is the key to preventing terrorism and crime. If you know your surroundings and you know what looks right, but you see something out of place, than report it," said Pat Daniels, the MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood Anti-terrorism and Force Protection officer.
Individuals should be aware of indicators that may help prevent terrorism:
-- People drawing or measuring important buildings;
-- Strangers asking questions or seeking information about security forces or procedures;
-- A briefcase, suitcase, backpack or package left behind;
-- Cars or trucks left in no parking zones in front of important buildings;
-- Intruders in secure areas, people wearing clothes that seem to be bulky or don't suit the weather outside;
-- Chemical smells or fumes that seem out of place, questions about sensitive information;
-- Purchasing supplies or equipment that can be used to make bombs.
"If you are at a hardware store and you see someone buying unusually large amounts of fertilizer, you report it by giving a description of the person, and maybe a license plate number," Daniels said.
"Then someone else sees that same person buying 50-gallon drums of diesel fuel, that person turns around and reports it, and just by doing that you have contributed to a much bigger picture. The authorities can then go investigate," he added.
The goal behind antiterrorisim is that we are trying to prevent terrorisim from happening. Antiterrorisim efforts have to be right 100 percent of the time, but the terrorists have to be right just once, Daniels said.
"As the saying goes, the life you save may be your own. If you see something, say something. It's as simple as that," said Harold Burleson, MSCoE, Training and Doctrine Command anti-terrorism officer.
To report a suspicious activity locally, call the Fort Leonard Wood Directorate of Emergencey Services at 573.596.6141, or report a tip anonymously online at wood.army.mil/LEC/iWatch/iWatch.htm.
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