JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Terrorism in the United States and globally has changed since 2001. This month marks the 15-year anniversary of the attacks in New York City, over Pennsylvania, and against the Pentagon. Four years have also passed since the September 11th Benghazi attacks on the American consulate in Libya. Though current terror tactics are less dramatic than using passenger airlines as weapons, they make enemy operations more challenging to identify and prevent.
Falling during the same time this year is an Islamic holy day, Eid al-Adha (known as the Festival of the Sacrifice), commemorating the story of Abraham preparing to sacrifice his son at his God’s request. Though the story is shared across three world religions, the overlap of the Muslim holiday with Sept. 11th anniversaries, coupled with the social and political upheaval in the U.S., increase the possibility of violent actions by various individuals or groups.
There is no specific, credible information at this time about any known enemy plots or planned terrorist operations within the Homeland.
However, lone wolves and other homegrown violent extremists present significant risk to 9/11 ceremonies and other mass gathering events. Additionally, the same increased risks that put CONUS Department of Defense bases at Force Protection Condition (FPCON) Bravo in May 2015 exist today.
Please remember to continue the following actions whenever you can to protect JB MDL missions, people, and the people we serve.
· Report people who seem out of place, especially if their actions are suspicious
· Make sure the social media (e.g., Facebook) profiles of you, your peers and family members include little/no personal information usable by enemies for targeting or attacks
· Do not share intimate photos or messaging with unknown recipients to avoid sextortion (using the threat of release of sexual images/texts as a form of control); teach your dependents, as well
· Be prepared for you and your family or peers to implement an active shooter response (RUN-HIDE-FIGHT) at any mass gathering event or locations
· Ensure you and your peers are extra vigilant at off-base work sites or Government locations that are often outside a secured perimeter
· Be prepared to gather information from suspicious calls or mail so you can accurately report it
· Always check the State Department website (travel.state.gov) prior to any OCONUS travel
· Support your unit/agency and assist your Antiterrorism Representative
Every JB MDL member is a sensor and an integrated defender! By participating in random antiterrorism measures (RAMs), responding to suspicious events, or reporting suspicious activity, you may save lives and protect missions by preventing the next terror plot. In this anniversary month, please remember history and do your part to stop it from happening again.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING… when you see suspicious activity:
*Call 87th Security Forces Squadron at 609-754-6001
*911 from a base landline
*When off-base, call 1-866-4-SAFE-NJ (723365) or 211
(NJ State Police Counter-Terrorism Watch)