August is Antiterrorism Awareness Month

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Courtesy of the USAG Stuttgart Antiterrorism Office

Each year, the Army sets aside August to raise awareness of its ongoing efforts to protect service members and their families, Department of the Army civilians and contractors from terrorist threats.

Here are a few things you should always keep in mind:

  1. The threat is real. According to an article by the Heritage Foundation, there have been more than 60 terrorist plots against the U.S. since 9/11. Their research of media reports and court documents shows that military facilities were the number one target in these plots, as well as places with mass gatherings.
  2. Awareness is critical. Knowledge is power, and just like in the National Football League, defense wins championships. Every member of the Army team is required to take the online AT Level I Awareness Training course, available online. To further enhance awareness, all new civilian hires, are required to receive face-to-face AT Level I training.
  3. See something – say something. Sometimes seemingly benign — but odd — situations can lead to terrible consequences, if they go unreported.This motto has contributed to preventing planned attacks. For example, an alert citizen in Minnesota had noticed someone crossing her yard to a storage area. She reported the suspicious activity and a 17 year old was charged with attempted murder, possessing explosives and attempted damage to property. He possessed 6 bombs, 7 weapons, and 400 rounds of ammunition and planned to kill his family and classmates. Awareness is our most certain defense against an act of terrorism. If you see something – say something.”

To report suspicious activity in the Stuttgart military community, people can do the following:

  1. There’s an app for that. Download the iReport app, visit www.eur.army.mil/iReport.
  2. Call the Military Police at DSN 430-5262/civ.  0711-680-5262.
  3. Go to the iWatch/iReport link found on the USAG Stuttgart homepage at www.stuttgart.army.mil and file an online report.

To report an imminent threat or crime in progress, immediately contact the military police office by dialing DSN 114, or reach host-nation law enforcement by dialing commercial in Germany: 112.