Anti-terrorism awareness is Team Vance responsibility Published Nov. 28, 2006 By Capt. Robert Rossi 71st Security Forces Squadron Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- When we are deployed in a high threat environment, our sense of awareness is immediately heightened. We become suspicious of things that seem unusual or out of the ordinary. We keep our guard up and prepare for the unexpected. How does that change as we go about our daily lives back at home? Did you see anything or anyone who looked suspicious on your way to work, in your neighborhood or in your work area today? Do you talk to your co-workers and family about how you can better secure your work and living area or what you would do in the event of a terrorist attack? Anti-terrorism is the combined and collective effort to deter, detect and counter terrorist acts against Department of Defense personnel and their families. Each and every member of Team Vance is a valuable component of the AT program. AT is a command responsibility integrated into every unit mission. But AT responsibilities don't stop at the end of the duty day. Effective AT requires every individual's participation to maintain awareness, practice personal security measures and report suspicious activity. A lack of direct terrorist activity can be deceiving and make it easy to become complacent. Do not allow yourselves or your co-workers to become complacent about terrorism. The threat from terrorism and other criminal activity is real, and we must stay alert and remind others to do the same. If there are those among your unit who feel anti-terrorism is just another program we have to comply with, remind them of the great cost to our countrymen and women, of those who lost their lives because of terrorist strikes against us. Terrorists have killed Americans both at home and abroad, and anti-terrorism has now become part of our way of life, whether we like it or not. Col. John Salley, Headquarters Air Force Security Forces Center commander, offers the following simple yet effective actions you can take to better protect yourself and your family: n Report anything suspicious or out of the ordinary to security forces or AFOSI. n Always remember to use your individual protection measures, such as varying your travel routines to make yourself less predictable. n Implement sound security practices like securing personal items and locking your car when unattended, inspect your car for signs of tampering prior to travel and lock the house when you leave. n Participate in or establish an Eagle Eyes or neighborhood watch program in your community. n Maintain situational awareness by remaining alert and knowing your surroundings. n Make sure you know the emergency services (police, fire department, ambulance) phone numbers for the neighborhood in which you are living. Everyone has a responsibility to their family, their unit and their country to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity, both on and off base. All active-duty members and DoD civilians are required to complete anti-terrorism/force protection Level I training annually. Military members, civilians and family members 14 years and older must receive AT awareness briefings prior to deployment and permanent change of station or travel to an overseas location. If you have not received your training, or are interested in learning more about the local AT program, call the installation AT officer, 1st Lt. Amy Manley at 7325. Vance AFB recently had an opportunity to practice some of our anti-terrorism measures during the base wide Force Protection Condition exercise. The wing exercise and evaluation team works hard to plan and execute realistic wing exercises to prepare us to react to acts of terrorism and other emergencies. Take these exercises seriously and make sure everyone in your unit does the same. This practice is vital to our mission's success and we'll be tested both during the Operational Readiness Inspection as well as in our everyday lives.