Anti-terrorism programs help keep us secure Published Aug. 25, 2008 By 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- "What does the Anti-terrorism and Force Protection program have to do with me?" and "How can anything I do really affect the safety of neighbors, the installation, or my unit's mission?" These are questions not always answered in a manner that raises an individuals' level of awareness to recognize their place in what has to be a team effort. We have seen evidence how alert and aware individuals can thwart a terrorist incident; and unfortunately, we have also seen the results of the failure of people to notice or report sightings of suspicious persons conducting surveillance of a future target. There have been many instances where attacks were carried out by domestic and international terrorists, causing death and destruction. But, I can also quickly point, that many planned attacks against our nation have been thwarted by individuals whose situational awareness allowed them to identify terrorists in the early phases of their attacks. The potential for 'Team Cannon,' which also includes our local communities, to identify people, actions, events, or items that are out of place is huge. With little more than a conscious effort to identify our surroundings, we could exponentially increase the size of the anti-terrorism and force protection footprint to encompass not just Cannon, but the entire region. We all live in the community, drive to the store, restaurant or mall, or at some point travel to Lubbock or Amarillo. This is our home, and this is the environment where terrorists seek to operate. We are thousands strong, and with everyone actively engaged in this environment, terrorists will find a greatly decreased chance for success. Interrupting the terrorists' planning cycle is the best way to ensure they opt for a different target rather than risk capture. By hardening our local communities and the installation, we can keep our families safe and ensure we are always mission capable. If you see anyone or anything suspicious on or near the base, call the 27th Special Operations Security Forces Squadron desk at (575) 784-4111.