203 1st Ave NE, Waverly, IA 50677
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Potential Threats Directed at Military Organizations and Personnel

HEADQUARTERS IOWA NATIONAL GUARD
Office of the Adjutant General
Camp Dodge Joint Maneuver Training Center
7105 NW 70th Avenue
Johnston, Iowa 50131-1824

2 October 2014

MEMORANDUM FOR SEE DISTRIBUTION

SUBJECT: Potential Threats Directed at Military Organizations and Personnel.

  1. The purpose of this memorandum is to increase NGIA situational awareness and begin protective action due to potential extremist threats toward personnel, Family members and military organizations.
  2. Leaders at all levels are directed to read and institute the procedures listed in the enclosed Force Protection Advisory 15-01.
  3. All personnel are advised that there are no identified threats directed at the Iowa National Guard, its employees or Families. The Iowa National Guard leadership must take steps to advise and take necessary actions to prevent potential events from negatively impacting our force and their Families.
  4. Presently, the Intelligence Community has not identified any corroborative or definitive extremist plots focused against the U.S. military, its Service members, Government Civilian employees, and military Family members. However, terrorist groups and their supporters have the installations and facilities worldwide. Given the continued rhetoric being issued by ISIL’s (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) media services and supporters through various social media platforms there is a concern of the possibility of an attack. Service members, Government Civilian employees and Family members are reminded to be vigilant of their surroundings and report suspicious activities to theri respective military leaders and local law enforcement.
  5. Over the past year, ISIL has threatened violence against the United States and US interests overseas in response to ongoing counterterrorism pressure. Following the start of US air strikes in Iraq in early August 2014, and then Syria in late September 2014, ISIL supporters launched a Twitter campaign threatening retaliatory violence against the United States. Additionally, a recent audio message from an ISIL spokesman called, for the first time, for lone offenders to conduct attacks in the United States in retaliation for US military operations in Iraq and Syria.
  6. Correspondence point of contact is LTC Donnie Atchison, Donnie.b.atchison.mil@mail.mil or 515-252-4374.

TIMOTHY E. ORR
Major General, Iowa National Guard
The Adjutant General

Encl
IA ARNG Force Protection Advisory 15-01

 

DISTRIBUTION:
A-Army
HQ Air Guard POCs (IA)
Each Full-time Technician Employee
Each Full-time State Employee
Bulletin Board

 

UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

HEADQUARTERS IOWA NATIONAL GUARD
Office of the Provost Marshal
7105 NW 70th Avenue
Johnston, Iowa 50131-1824

2 October 2015

FORCE PROTECTION ADVISORY 15-01

(U) SUBJECT: Situational Awareness and Protective Measures

  1. (U) References.
    1. (U//FOUO) Joint DHS-FBI Intelligence Bullitin (24 September 2014)
    2. (U//FOUO) WING FP Bulletin 2014-08 (19 September 2014)
    3. (U//FOUO) eGuardian Report IANATXGRD-2014-0008 (1 October 2014)
    4. (U//FOUO) ARNORTH LEIB SITREP # 0223-14 (1 October 2014)
    5. (U//FOUO) ARNORTH Force Protection Advisory (1 October 2014)
  2. (U//FOUO) Purpose. Heighten awareness and protective measures in response to ISIL/ISIS threats to the U.S. Homeland
  3. (U//FOUO) Background.
    1. (U) Commencement of US-led airstrikes against violent extremist targets in Syria in September heighten concerns of potential terrorist attacks CONUS. In response, multiple US Government Organizations continue issuing bulletins and advisories to increase situational awareness and encourage suspicious incident reporting.
    2. (U//FOUO) To date threats to the US Homeland remain general and persistent, with growing concerns over Homegrown Violent Extremists and ISIL but with little, or no, specificity of targeting. There are no specified threats identified within the State of Iowa and there is no change in USNORTHCOM or IAARNG FPCON.
  4. (U) Assessment.
    1. (U//FOUO) HVE and lone offenders remain a clear and present danger throughout CONUS. Detection, deterrence and disruption of HVE, other extremist and terrorist efforts remain challenging for citizens and the law enforcement and intelligence communities. An alert an informed public is considered essential to detecting and deterring or preventing such actions.
    2. (U??FOUO) Pre-operational indicators may appear insignificant individually, but may become apparent collectively or in combination with other indicators. Reporting of observed indicators or suspicious activity is imparative [sp.].
  5. (U//FOUO) Recommended Protective Actions.
    1. (U//FOUO) All commanders are advised to:
      1. (U) Develop their respective threat picture and remain situationally aware by coordinating with enforcement partners.
      2. (U) Provide as much information as possible to uniformed service members, civilians and contractors, and their families, about DoD activities, within proper OPSEC, technology and information security limits.
      3. (U) Keep NGIA personnel and their families informed and educated on increased AT/FP measures to mitigate inconvenience to persons accessing NGIA facilities and traveling between them and surrounding communities.
      4. (U) Publish this FPA in conjunction with unit drill letters for the month of October.
      5. (U) Ensure leaders brief all personnel on protective measures specified in [the] paragraphs [immediately following this one] of this FPA during the next scheduled drill assemble.
    2. (U//FOUO) All personnel are advised to:
      1. (U) Monitor open sources for situational awareness of extremist activity or information operations.
      2. (U) Maintain situational awareness within local communities and workplaces as potential threats may vary between stations.
      3. (U) Maintain awareness of your surroundings, especially while traveling or attending large public gatherings.
      4. (U) Personnel should become familiar with their unit’s Critical Information List and apply appropriate operations security (OPSEC) measures.
      5. (U) Individuals should review their privacy settings on social networking sites and consider minimizing military affiliation and personal information online.
    3. General Social Media Precautions.
      1. (U) Think before you post. Always assume everyone in the world will be able to see what you are posting, or tweeting, even if the site limits your posts to your friends and family.
      2. (U) Limit who can view your social media sites, but do not trust these settings as absolute.
      3. (U) Avoid posting your home or work address and phone numbers; and any government or military affiliation.
      4. (U) Avoid providing detailed accounts of your day (e.g., when you leave for or return from work).
      5. (U) Never allow application to geolocate your location.
    4. (U) Physical Security Precautions.
      1. (U) While most of these measures are primarily geared toward home burglaries, when implemented these same measures can help prevent an individual from conducting an attack while you or your family members are home.
      2. (U) Always lock doors, windows and garages.
      3. (U) Make sure home entrances are well-lighted, and minimize bushes where intruders can hide before their ambush.
      4. (U) Use the peephole before opening the door to anyone.
      5. (U) Don’t use the chain latch to open the door part-way.
      6. (U) Don’t open the door to solicitors or strangers.
      7. (U) Install solid-core doors, heavy-duty locks and window security systems.
      8. (U) Establish a safe haven.
      9. (U) Hold a family meeting to work out home security plans.
  6. (U) Reporting.
    1. (U) If personnel observe suspicious or threat situations take the following actions.
      1. (U) Leave the area immediately and warn others in the area.
      2. (U) Report the incident immediately to law enforcement.
      3. (U) Notify chain of command at the next available opportunity.
      4. (U) Notify the Provost Marshal at 515-252-4374.
  7. (U) Force Protection Condition (FPCON).
    1. (U) There is no FPCON Level change. The baseline in Iowa remains FPCON ALPHA plus BRAVO measures 7, 10, and 12.
    2. (U) Expiration. This advisory expires Wednesday, 312400DEC14.
  8. (U) Point of Contact. POC for this advisory message is the IAARNG Provost Marshal, LTC Donnie Atchison, 515-252-4374, donnie.b.atchison.mil@mail.mil.

 

DONNIE B. ATCHISON
LTC, IN, IAARNG
Provost Marshal