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FORT HOOD, Texas -- August is recognized as Antiterrorism Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about preventing terrorism and promoting vigilance in the community.
Antiterrorism, like Operations Security (OPSEC), is everyone’s responsibility, said Niaa Payne, operations specialist, Antiterrorism & Force Protection (AT/FP) with the Fort Hood Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization, and Security (DPTMS).
“Everybody has their role that they play,” she said, noting the AT/FP Office pushes out policy and ensures people and units are compliant with the program, but an effective antiterrorism program relies on the ability to prevent harm, and that comes down to those in the community remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious activities.
“I think the biggest thing to keep in mind when we talk about Antiterrorism Awareness Month is the emphasis on a proactive program that gets after things and the security measures necessary to protect people, equipment and facilities,” said Lawrence Stewart, lead antiterrorism specialist, AT/FP, DPTMS. “This month highlights those proactive efforts that should be done throughout the year, with a special emphasis on training.”
Stewart said the key to preventing terrorism is being proactive.
“Because we have to be right all the time,” he said. “The enemy, the terrorist, votes just once, so that becomes the yin and the yang piece of dealing with antiterrorism.”
Being proactive means being aware of one’s surroundings and reporting unusual or suspicious people or items to authorities.
“See something, Say something” is the antiterrorism mantra, encouraging anyone and everyone to report suspicious activity. At Fort Hood, activity and tips can be reported by calling 254-288-COPS (2677).
“If something seems out of place, like a door that’s normally supposed to be secured has been propped open for a while, take the action to secure it or notify a building manager and then report it,” Payne said.
Reports can be made to a unit’s antiterrorism officer, unit security manager or law enforcement.
Stewart said it is better to report something that seems out of place or does not look right, “things that kind of make the hair stand up on your neck,” than not. Officials would rather receive an unfounded report made in good faith than not receive a report at all.
“It doesn’t hurt to report it to somebody,” he said. “If it comes to find out that it’s nothing, no problem, but you just never know.”
“As long as you’re truly concerned or truly believe you’ve seen something suspicious, there is no harm,” he added. “No foul reporting it. It’s better to report it and have it be unfounded than not to report it.”
Stewart offered the use of drones as an example of activity to report.
The use of drones on the installation is forbidden without prior approval from the garrison commander and the senior commander. If one is flying above the installation, that should be reported, Stewart said, so if officials do not have it logged, the situation can be investigated.
Terrorism is not always an act of violence or even immediately obvious. Cyber-attacks could disrupt life at home and on missions.
“It’s easier for (terrorists) to get into our networks now versus trying to get through the gate,” Payne said. “That’s a form of an attack. It could be small, micro events that lead to something that ends up being destructive in the end.”
As part of Antiterrorism Awareness Month, seminars and training will be held throughout the month to educate Soldiers, civilians, contractors and family members about identifying and reporting suspicious activity.
The month’s events kicked off Wednesday with an Antiterrorism Level II workshop for antiterrorism officers, but all other workshops and seminars are open to all Fort Hood personnel and family members 14 and older. Every Wednesday in August, Antiterrorism and Protection seminars will be held at Palmer Auditorium, Bldg. 337 on 31st Street.
The seminars include Operations Security I, Antiterrorism Level I and Active Shooter, Cyber Security and Insider Threat.
Antiterrorism Level I and Operations Security seminars are required annual training for Soldiers, Department of the Army civilians and government contractors, and are recommended for family members 14 years and older.
“Every single person is a sensor for terrorism,” Stewart said. “People look to (Force Protection officers) us that are in the field doing the work, but all the work is done by you, contractors, DOD civilians, Soldiers, family members. Those are the first folks that we rely on to do the work that we talk about.”
For more information, call the Fort Hood Force Protection Office at 254-288-6466 or 254-286-5376.
| Date Taken: | 08.06.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 08.22.2025 17:00 |
| Story ID: | 545006 |
| Location: | TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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