CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
By now, most of you have probably heard about the recent incident where two individuals were stopped in Goose Creek for speeding, and were discovered to be carrying explosives in the trunk of their car. The investigation continues, but the implications are dark.
This incident is a reminder that we are not immune to the threat of a terrorist attack. Because Charleston AFB is so important to the Air Force and the war effort, it is a very real possibility that we could be a target for terrorist activities. Everyone who works on base must be aware of this real potential and remain vigilant at all times.
An important tool for educating our folks on ways to detect potential threats is through the Eagle Eyes program, which was developed by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations specifically to detect potential threats to our government and the military. This anti-terrorism initiative enlists the eyes and ears of Air Force members and citizens in the war on terror by teaching them about the typical activities terrorists engage in to plan attacks. With this information, anyone can recognize and report elements of potential terror planning when they see it.
As you go about your daily routine, please be aware of your surroundings. Look for these suspicious behaviors: surveillance -- someone recording or monitoring activities; elicitation -- people or organizations attempting to gain detailed information about military operations, capabilities, or people; tests of security -- attempts to measure reaction times to security breaches or to penetrate physical security barriers or procedures; acquiring supplies -- purchasing or stealing explosives, weapons, ammunition, detonators, timers and other items; suspicious persons out of place -- people who don't seem to belong in the workplace, neighborhood, business establishment or anywhere else; dry run -- putting people into position and moving them
around without actually committing the terrorist act ... take note of people moving around from place to place without any apparent purpose; deploying assets -- people and supplies getting into position to commit the act ... this is a person's last chance to alert authorities before the terrorist act occurs.
If you notice any suspicious activities, notify the Charleston AFB Office of Special Investigations, Detachment 310, at 963-3248, or security forces at 963-3600. Even if it turns out to be a false alarm, it is better to be sure than to take the chance that you may be allowing a potential terrorist to succeed in doing harm to the base.
You also should be aware of the base warning siren, what it means and what actions to take when you hear it. Last week, we had an exercise with a scenario similar to the Virginia Tech shootings that occurred earlier this year. The major lesson we learned from the exercise is that much of the base population is unaware of what to do when they hear the base warning siren.
If you hear a wavering tone or voice announcement on the base public address system, a hostile incident may be in progress. Immediately take the following steps: seek shelter, follow the verbal instructions and stay indoors until the "all clear" signal is given. It is also important for us to educate our family members about these lifesaving procedures. If an incident should occur, there will be no need to worry about the safety of dependents because they should have already been taught what to do.
Constant vigilance and proper training are crucial to protecting our Airmen, securing our base and maintaining our assets.
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!