An Overview of the 2007 Army Antiterrorism Conference.

The U.S. Army held its Seventh Annual Antiterrorism (AT) Conference 29 January-2 February 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Resort Hotel, Cambridge, Maryland. More than 230 military and civilian personnel from the AT and force protection (FP) communities attended the conference.

The theme of the conference, The Changing Roles of Army Antiterrorism, was very fitting given the recent reorganization of Army commands (ACOMs) and direct reporting units (DRUs) versus major commands (MACOMs) and the broadening focus on Army AT policies (such as the increasing emphasis on tactical units and stand-alone facilities). To highlight the conference theme, presentations were provided by senior level Army staff members, including representatives from the Office of the Provost Marshal General (OPMG) and the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 (1), and senior representatives from selected ACOMs and DRUs. Representatives from corps and division AT offices detailed lessons learned and provided insight into Army AT efforts in operational theaters. To provide an enhanced knowledge of the international terrorist threat, distinguished guest speakers provided information and insight into radical Islamic terrorist doctrine; Jihad jurisprudence; and terrorist recruitment, training, planning, and execution for attacks.

The conference opened with a motivating presentation by Mr. Mark Lewis, the Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, who reminded conference attendees that our Nation is fighting a smart and adaptive enemy--experts in the use of technology--with the advantage of picking the time and place of an attack. He stated that the War on Terrorism (WOT) would be long and exhaustive and that federal, state, and local agencies must share information to ensure victory. Mr. Lewis stressed that there will never be enough money. He encouraged prioritization, the wise use of limited resources, and information sharing of learned practices. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of the Army AT Strategic Plan, in particular, Army Goal 7 and improved AT training in leadership courses, especially for perspective battalion and brigade commanders. (2)

Brigadier General Rodney Johnson, Army Provost Marshal General, also addressed conference attendees. He provided an overview of U.S. Army Military Police efforts in support of the WOT and other contingencies worldwide. He described the great worldwide demands that are being placed on Active Army and reserve component Military Police units and personnel. Brigadier General Johnson highlighted several initiatives that are being managed by his office to assist commanders in the WOT, including specialized search dogs, standardized civilian security guard requirements, and automated installation access control. He concluded his remarks with an overview of the support that the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is providing in the WOT.

There were a number of speakers who provided details for the attendees to better understand the enemy. Christina Mayes from the Interagency Operations Security (OPSEC) Support Staff explained how terrorists use Web sites and e-mails to get information. She discussed the popularity of Weblogs (blogs) and identified many examples of actual blogs that provided the enemy with useful information. Ms. Aimee David of Digital Freedom Initiative (DFI) International gave a sobering account of how radical Islamic terrorists used the Internet to recruit and train members and plan attacks, to include using chat rooms to request information on U.S. tactics and equipment (seeking information on vulnerabilities and lessons learned based on attacks in Iraq). Mr. George Akklequist from the Joint Terrorism Task Force, San Francisco Federal Bureau of Investigation Field Office, trains agents to understand how Islamic terrorists think and fight. He presented a four-hour lecture/discussion on Islamic terrorism that included subjects on the--

* Islamic jurisprudence on Jihad.

* Law of Islam.

* Military and paramilitary doctrine of Sharia law.

* Core doctrine of Jihad.

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Mr. Akklequist took many questions, which prompted spirited discussions.

The Army AT Strategic Plan and the ongoing evolution toward a more inclusive AT program mean changing roles across the board. Nowhere is that adjustment more apparent than in Army command programs. Shifting focus to accommodate a broader approach will make for significant changes in the way AT business gets done. Senior level representatives reviewed ongoing command AT strategic plans and progress at the conference. These reviews reminded the attendees of the Army AT vision that includes coverage of every asset, activity, and person associated with the Army. Similar briefings at successive Army AT conferences will act as a vehicle for discussion and progress evaluations.

Army staff presentations continued the theme of the conference by focusing on the changing roles of AT within the Department of the Army. Colonel Eugene Smith, Chief, Operations Division, OPMG, briefed attendees on ongoing law enforcement and physical security actions that are supporting the fight against the WOT. Colonel Richard Vanderlinden, Deputy Director, Army Asymmetric Warfare Office (AWO), Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, provided an overview of his organization's mission. The Army AWO integrates military and civilian disciplines to rapidly organize, train, and equip Soldiers to apply and defeat asymmetric threats. Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson, Chief, FP Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, discussed the establishment of the FP Coordination Cell (FPCC). The FPCC will synchronize various Army programs under an FP umbrella. It will integrate related protection policies, programs, and resourcing into a single coherent effort across the Army. Additionally, Ms. Shirley Freelon, Resource Manager, OPMG, gave an overview of AT funding, and Mr. Alex Mascelli, Chief, AT Branch, OPMG, provided conference attendees with the current status of Army AT strategy, policy, doctrine, and training.

There were outstanding presentations given by representatives from combatant commands and the joint staff. Brigadier General Robert Holmes, Director of Operations, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) provided an overview of current operations and the many challenges faced by his command concerning AT. Colonel James Brown, Director, AT/FP, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), spoke on the complex issues his command dealt with when establishing combatant command AT and FP programs. He discussed the necessary coordination between NORTHCOM and the services to ensure the effective management of AT and FP within the NORTHCOM area of responsibility.

The conference concluded with the presentation of the Army FP Assessment Team Award to U.S. Army, Europe (USAREUR). The award is given to the ACOM, Army Service Component Commander (ASCC), and DRU that demonstrated the most effective FP program during the past calendar year, as evaluated by the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7 FP assessment team. Major General Michael Symanski, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3 for Mobilization and Reserve Affairs, presented the award to Colonel Charles Bradley, Chief, FP Division, Headquarters, USAREUR.

The annual AT Conference provides an opportunity to review progress made and plan for future operations related to the Army's AT Strategic Plan. It provides an opportunity for interaction among Army AT organizations at all levels of commands and activities. From installations to units, the conference provides a forum that promulgates a common operating picture for Army AT.

Endnotes

(1) The Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Plans, and Training.

(2) AT Strategic Plan, Army Goal 7--embedding AT concepts throughout the Army by developing, implementing, and sustaining AT training and doctrine for Army military and civilian personnel.

By Lieutenant Colonel Matt Croke and Mr. Ron Francis

Lieutenant Colonel Croke is a U.S. Army Individual Ready Reserve officer, Special Forces individual mobilization augmentee (IMA) assigned to the FP division of the AWO, Army G-3/5/7. In his civilian job, Lieutenant Colonel Croke is a force protection officer for the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Life Cycle Management Command, Fort Monmouth, New Jersey.

Mr. Francis is a contracted AT policy specialist in the AT Branch, OPMG. He is also a retired military police lieutenant colonel.