Antiterrorism awareness, you Published June 17, 2011 By Donna M. Smith Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Antiterrorism Office JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- You may or may not hear sirens warning the workforce if terrorists conduct a surprise attack on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The alarm bells that should go off, however, are the ones in your mind when you notice something wrong with your surroundings. JB MDL and the entire area of responsibility for the U.S. Northern Command are at Force Protection Condition ALPHA. This action was initiated after recent events in Southwest Asia alerted U.S. officials of the potential for anti-American violence and the vast implications surrounding the death of Osama bin Laden. The joint base has intensified its vigilance to ensure the safety and integrity of its diverse population. Many of these security initiatives will not be obvious to you but they are critical, nevertheless. Security forces conduct increased patrols, building inspections and walk-throughs, perimeter fenceline patrols and an increase in Random Antiterrorism Measures. Our mission is to implement FPCON ALPHA measures effectively while preparing to transition to FPCON BRAVO, CHARLIE and/or DELTA at a moment's notice to ensure your safety. Make sure your organization looks ahead on the FPCON checklists. Ensure you and your work mates have everything needed to immediately execute all measures. Commanders and base leaders have been advised to increase awareness since terrorist organizations have the ability to plan quickly and strike fast. Complacency and lack of attention to security details by base workers, residents and visitors make those plans easier to carry out. The JB MDL plan is simple: observe and report. Know who is in your area and why. Everyone on the base should have some form of identification or pass granting him or her access to the installation. Ask suspicious people for his or her pass to verify who they are. · Rearrange your office furniture so someone is watching the door to your area or facility. Feel free to have visitors sign in. · Have employees take turns checking inside and outside the work areas first thing in the morning and before leaving for the day. It's hard to spot something different - a cabinet moved or a row of boxes that wasn't there the day before - if you never look in the first place. Has an unfamiliar car been left next to your building for several hours? Report it to the 87th Security Forces Squadron at 562-6001. Did "someone" leave a briefcase, backpack, bag or package unattended in a public area? Don't open it - report it. · Have you seen an unfamiliar person hanging around your building or taking photographs of it? Don't just wonder why - report it. The situation will be safe in most cases but there is always a chance it could be deadly. It's a chance you don't need to take, for your sake or your family's, friends or co-workers. Occasionally the threat may come from within or from a trusted source, as in the Fort Hood shootings or the attack planned by the Fort Dix Six over the last few years. Be mindful of the insider threat and the additional dangers and challenges it presents. You have five physical senses acting, in part, as an early-warning system to trigger your fight-or-flight response. Remember to use your senses at all times both on- and off-base to protect yourself and those around you. Violent attacks, no matter what the source, often present indicators before they happen, like the gathering of dark clouds before a storm. But if no one pays attention, the indicators go unnoticed and the outcome becomes more tragic. You may not be able to prevent the storm from coming, but you can better prepare your response when you see the clouds and expect the lightning and thunder.