Photo By Master Sgt. Sierra Melendez | Lt. Col. Martin D. Schmidt, 3rd Infantry Division provost marshal, poses for a photo...... read more read more
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The instructors and course material came from a mobilized training team headquartered at the home of the United States Army Military Police School in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. The course took place during the U.S. Army’s eighth annual observance of Antiterrorism Awareness Month.
In accordance with Army Regulation 350-1, Army Training and Leader Development, all Soldiers and Department of the Army Civilians are required to participate in Level I antiterrorism training. However, AT Level II dives significantly deeper.
“It’s a risk management process to mitigate threats against Army assets,” said Stacy Howell, antiterrorism instructor. “Basic Level I encourages awareness that there are threats out there. AT level II certifies personnel to be considered Antiterrorism Officers for their battalion or above units.”
Antiterrorism officers, or ATOs, are charged with the responsibility to protect the commander’s assets – including but not limited to personnel, equipment and mission essential vulnerable areas.
“That person’s sole purpose is to create a risk management plan to protect their commander’s individual resources and MEVAs that help them conduct their missions such as dining facilities, clinics, motor pools, arms rooms or even barracks,” said Howell.
Another major subject area that was covered in the course was active shooter response training.
“Usually Soldiers are on-scene first in these particular situations, even before law enforcement,” said Howell. “The active shooter material that we go over in the course include dos and don’ts, potential warning signs and prevention measures.”
Staff Sgt. Andy W. Zeigler, another instructor for the course said unit ATOs are an integral aspect of the antiterrorism risk management process.
“We spend a day and a half extensively and thoroughly going into the antiterrorism risk management process,” said Zeigler. “A lot of it parallels the composite risk management that leaders already implement. We have different tools and factors that come into play to identify to commanders where their antiterrorism risks lie.”
1st Lt. Christopher J. Polo, Hunter Army Airfield Garrison Headquarters and Headquarters Company and recent AT Level II grad, said he was highly impressed with the course and walked away with a plethora of knowledge and new-found awareness.
“The course highlighted a number of different approaches of employing physical security measures,” said Polo. “I think a lot of time people think of AT awareness with an installation frame of mind, but really, these methods can be used in any setting and at any location.”
The MTT is slated to return to Fort Stewart for another AT level II rotation in October. DA Civilians and Soldiers in the rank of staff sergeant and above are encouraged to submit packets through their chain of command.
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 08.22.2017 12:48 |
| Story ID: | 245587 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | ATHENS, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | ATLANTA, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | FORT LEONARD WOOD, MISSOURI, US |
| Hometown: | FORT LIBERTY, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, US |
| Hometown: | SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 226 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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