JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas –
This September marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
“The significance of this date has never been greater,” said Master Sgt. Adrian Rodriguez, Antiterrorism Program Manager, 902nd Security Forces Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. “This has a dual meaning for us as a country: we have successfully prevented another big attack on the motherland, while on the other hand, we continue to grieve the lives lost in not only the attacks, but also those waging the struggle against terrorism.”
In order to continue to keep JBSA and the United States safe, everyone needs to be waging the struggle against terrorism together. August is Antiterrorism Month and to protect all essential personnel and resources against terrorist attack, it is essential that the community maintains alertness and awareness about suspicious activities.
As manager of the antiterrorism program, Rodriguez provides guidance to wing, group, and squadron leadership on integrated defense, risk management, and mitigation procedures for 166 aircraft and $2 billion in assets.
He also provides direction and training to squadron commanders and unit representatives around the installation to ensure that antiterrorism regulations and requirements are followed at their respective facilities and uses risk management principles to develop immediate plans of action across JBSA to address threats, vulnerabilities, and countermeasures.
“Lone actors and insider threats who seek to attack vulnerable targets with freely accessible weaponry offer the greatest threat we face in the country,” Rodriguez said. “Regrettably, these situations happen far too frequently and are notoriously difficult to forecast.”
That is why it is important that community members are engaged in the fight against terrorism. Vigilance is of the highest importance. Reporting suspicious activities is one of the most important things a person can do.
“If you see something unusual, say something,” Rodriguez said. “When it comes to boosting awareness and safety, we often hear that every Airman is a sensor. You can safeguard your family, neighbors, and neighborhood by being vigilant and reporting suspicious activities. If you see something suspicious, please call local law enforcement.”
The Random Antiterrorism Measures, or RAM, program is another way the JBSA community maintains security. It allows unit commanders to enhance alertness as well as knowledge of prospective adversaries.
Every day, security forces officers conduct RAM exercises throughout the installation at unpredictable times and locations to deter, detect, deny, delay and defend against any terrorist threats and to increase situational awareness for active duty personnel.
“The RAM program is a defensive tactic designed to reduce predictability in the installation's force-protection plan and to provide an effective manner of securing our people and resources, and it involves everyone,” Rodriguez said.
Antiterrorism measures are a joint effort.
“The overall goal,” Rodriguez said, “is to work together to share critical information and strengthen our ability to combat terrorism.”
As Rodriguez emphasizes, if you see something, say something. Call 911 or the JBSA-Randolph Antiterrorism Program phone number at 210-652-8298. People can also call the Emergency Control Centers at any of the JBSA Installations:
- JBSA-Fort Sam Houston:210-221-9331
- JBSA-Randolph: 210-652-5700
- JBSA-Lackland: 210-671-2018