LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Virginia –
The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, taught us that the enemies of the United States are capable of striking high-value targets on American soil, and they’re willing to stop at nothing to do so.
While the United States has been safe from terror attacks since that ill-fated day, vigilance remains called for like never before. For that reason, the Air Force Office of Special Investigations continues to promote the “Eagle Eyes” program.
Terrorist acts are not spontaneous activities that “just happen.” They require careful planning and are rehearsed in advance.
This point was stressed considerably when investigations into the Sept. 11 attacks revealed the perpetrators lived in our cities and communities, conducted surveillance, planned their attacks and rehearsed their operations in the midst of our everyday way of life. Yet not enough people were able to recognize the planning activities and contact the right people to prevent the tragedy.
That is why “Eagle Eyes” was created -- to better educate Air Force personnel and ordinary citizens on the planning activities associated with terrorist acts and to encourage them to notify authorities when they see something suspicious.
Since its inception in April 2002, the program has involved people in the protection of Air Force people and resources in their own communities. In fact, since its inception the program has brought in more than 5,000 tips from around the world.
The tips are then turned into “TALON” reports, which OSI feeds to Federal and Department of Defense law enforcement communities. This process helps to paint a much broader picture of threats around the world, allowing early detection and ensuring the protection of American forces.
While Force Protection Conditions across the globe fluctuate with activities local to each facility, the “Eagle Eyes” concept becomes more important than ever. Base personnel, along with the surrounding communities should continue their vigilance and report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities. It is this high level of cooperation between the base and the community that has made the program not only a success, but now a DoD standard.
Specifically, “Eagle Eyes” encourages people to recognize the following activities as potentially suspicious and to report them to authorities:
Surveillance. Someone recording or monitoring activities. This may include the use of cameras (either still or video), note taking, drawing diagrams, annotating on maps, or using binoculars or other vision-enhancing devices.
Elicitation. People or organizations attempting to gain information about military operations, capabilities, or people. Elicitation attempts may be made by mail, fax, telephone or in person.
Tests of security. Any attempts to measure reaction times to security breaches or to penetrate physical security barriers or procedures in order to assess strengths and weaknesses.
Acquiring supplies. Purchasing or stealing explosives, weapons, ammunition, etc. Also includes acquiring military uniforms, decals, flight manuals, passes or badges (or the equipment to manufacture such items) or any other controlled items.
Suspicious persons out of place. People who don’t seem to belong in the workplace, neighborhood, business establishment or anywhere else. Includes suspicious border crossings and stowaways aboard ship or people jumping ship in port.
Dry run. Putting people into position and moving them around according to their plan without actually committing the terrorist act. This is especially true when planning a kidnapping, but it can also pertain to bombings. An element of this activity could also include mapping out routes and determining the timing of traffic lights and flow.
Deploying assets. People and supplies getting into position to commit the act. This is a person’s last chance to alert authorities before the terrorist act occurs.
The U.S. Air Force belongs to the citizens of this great nation, and their continued vigilance helps protect Air Force people and resources from terrorist attacks.
Air Force people are dispersed around the nation and around the world, both on base and off. So are their families. And so are merchants and citizens who form a community of interest near Air Force bases and interests. “Eagle Eyes” puts them all on the antiterrorism team by teaching them what to look for. Doing so makes the world a smaller, more difficult place for terrorists to carry out their missions.