Remain watchful during the holidays for suspicious activities Published Dec. 23, 2010 By Steven Nutt Installation Antiterrorism officer HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- The holiday season has always been a wondrous time of year for my family and me. Like many of you, my family and I celebrate by traveling to share the company of loving relatives and friends, attending tree lighting ceremonies and other seasonal venues, and counting the many blessings bestowed upon us as Americans. Unfortunately, even with all the wonderment of the holiday season I am painfully aware that terrorist groups, and those who espouse their radical ideology, remain intent on conducting attacks to capitalize on the cultural significance attached to this time of year. With all of the hustle and bustle of the season you, like me, may have noticed an uptick in recent foiled plots. Recent plots included the disrupted attempt by a Virginia-based man to assist persons he believed to be al-Qaida in the bombing of northern Virginia monorail stations in October; two bombs discovered in U.S.-bound packages aboard commercial delivery aircraft, as well as the attempted bombing by an Oregon man at a public tree lighting ceremony in November and the attempted bombing of a military recruiting station in Maryland just a few short days ago. As we prepare to travel, share time with family and friends or attend large events in celebration, I urge each of you to take a moment to review the following list of suspicious activities and keep them in mind throughout the holiday season. If you witness any of these activities on Hill Air Force Base or in your local community, please take the time to report them through either the U.S. Air Force Eagle Eyes Program by contacting the Base Defense Operations Center at (801) 777-3056, the Utah Terrorism Hotline at (801) 579-1400, or if traveling, through the Department of Homeland Security switchboard at 1 (202) 282-8000; all reports, on or off the installation, may be made 24 hours a day. * Keep an eye out for surveillance. Anyone taking notes or monitoring activities on or off the installation, i.e., someone using cameras, to include cell phone cameras, or video recorders inside or outside the perimeter of the installation, near schools, malls, sporting events, or other similar mass gathering venues. * Beware of elicitation: This is anyone or an organization surreptitiously attempting to gain information by mail, telephone, facsimile, or in person about military operations, missions and personnel or attempts to gain in-depth information about security at a particular facility or public event. * Recognize tests of security: These are attempts to measure reaction times to security breaches or to bypass physical security measures or procedures. * Acquiring supplies: This is generally the purchasing or theft of explosives, weapons, ammunition, uniforms, decals, flight manuals, passes or badges, the equipment to manufacture them or any other controlled items. * Look for suspicious persons out of place: People who appear out of place around the work center, neighborhood or anywhere else. You know better than anyone who should be in your work areas, communities and neighborhoods and when things are out of place or suspicious. * Dry runs: Placing operatives in position and essentially practicing or exercising a terrorist incident (dress rehearsal). This could also be someone mapping out routes or determining the timing of traffic lights and flow. * Deployment of assets: People and supplies being positioned to commit the terrorist act. This is the last opportunity to alert authorities before the terrorist act occurs. If it doesn't look right -- report it! Force Protection is everyone's business. Everyone is a sensor. If you see something, then say something! I wish each of you, and your families, a wonderful and safe holiday season.