ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — Aberdeen Proving Ground will observe Antiterrorism Month throughout August with the theme “Always Ready! Always Alert! Because someone is depending on you,” Antiterrorism Officer Jeremiah Irvin said. The slogan underscores the personal responsibility of every Soldier, civilian and contractor on post to remain vigilant against emerging threats.
“Our primary goal this year is to boost situational awareness across APG and to strengthen community partnerships for data and information sharing,” Irvin said. “By ensuring everyone knows what to look for and how to report it, we harden our defenses and protect those who depend on us.”
Signature events begin Aug. 5 with National Night Out, a community outreach effort inviting neighbors and local first responders to connect over safety demonstrations, informational displays and light refreshments. The following day, Aug. 6, the post theater will host antiterrorism level I training at 1:30 p.m., open to all Soldiers and civilian employees. Irvin encouraged mission partners to attend “to learn basic threat identification, protective measures and reporting procedures.”
Throughout the month, Irvin’s office will assist mission partners in conducting random antiterrorism measures at various government-owned buildings. Weekly awareness videos and messaging vignettes will be distributed via email and SharePoint for use in unit meetings and common-area displays.
“Our messaging focuses on ‘See Something, Say Something,’” he said. “It applies to everyone—Soldiers, family members, contractors and visitors. If you notice unusual behavior or suspicious items, report them immediately.”
Irvin draws on lessons learned from previous observances at other installations. “Once people know what indicators to watch for and how to respond, awareness spikes,” he said. He plans to share real-life examples of thwarted incidents, reinforcing that vigilance can and does save lives.
Antiterrorism Month depends on seamless interagency coordination, Irvin noted. Since arriving at APG in November 2024, he has reached out to the Aberdeen Police Department, Harford County Sheriff’s Office, Prince George’s and Montgomery County police departments, as well as federal partners in the Army and DoD antiterrorism communities. “I hold regular joint meetings to ensure that APG stays in the loop,” he said. “Timely information sharing allows us to address potential challenges proactively.”
Measuring success remains a work in progress. While the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security tracks standard training-completion rates, Irvin said he also gauges impact through mission-partner feedback. “When support tools are co-developed and units thank us for increased awareness messaging—actions that never happened before—that’s an indicator we’re on the right path,” he said. Attendance and correspondence with mission partners have risen markedly since he began ramping up outreach.
Irvin offers practical tips for immediate threat mitigation: attend security-education training, read and practice emergency-response plans, remain situationally aware, and report any suspicious activity. He also advises minimizing time in stalled traffic or crowded areas, staying alert to signs of radicalization and remembering that “if you see something, say something.”
Emerging technologies play a critical role in APG’s antiterrorism posture, Irvin said. Closed-circuit cameras help track potential bad actors and unusual movements; multilayered access-control systems reinforce “defense-in-depth”; and secure intelligence-sharing platforms allow real-time collaboration with national and local agencies. “Without technology, our ability to protect this installation would be extremely limited,” he said.
As the installation’s antiterrorism officer, Irvin said he is driven by the desire to keep others safe. “Providing information that empowers people to protect themselves and their families motivates me every day,” he said. His biggest challenge? Convincing those who underestimate the seriousness of global threats to embrace preparedness. “I share awareness information not just about APG’s area of responsibility but also about risks in surrounding communities, so people stay vigilant everywhere,” he explained.
Looking ahead, Irvin plans to maintain a steady flow of updates via his SharePoint page and direct messages on Microsoft Teams. Personnel may also contact him at (667) 201-4549. “Antiterrorism is everyone’s duty,” he said. “Stay ready. Stay alert. Because someone is depending on you.”
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