AFOSI gears up with Eagle Eyes Published Jan. 26, 2010 Air Force Office of Special Investigations MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The Air Force Office of Special Investigations continues to educate the community about the Air Force-wide program intended to deter terrorism by recognizing and reporting pre-attack activities. The program, known as Eagle Eyes, is a "global neighborhood watch program" created to promote an aware and involved community. The purpose of Eagle Eyes is to ensure the community knows what to look for and how to report suspicious activity. The first important element to be aware of is surveillance. Overt surveillance may involve a person standing outside the gate jotting down notes or drawing a rough map, taking pictures, or using binoculars or other vision-enhancing devices. However, some surveillance is more covert, such as a "broken down" car in a place that allows occupants the ability to observe on-base activities while waiting for "help." In order to plan an attack, terrorists must acquire information about the base and its personnel. In the early stages this can be done by reading published information or searching the internet, but at some point the terrorists will try to obtain undisclosed information. This is usually done through elicitation, which is the attempt to obtain security-related information without the proper clearance or need to know. Elicitation may occur by phone, fax, e-mail, or in person. A terrorist may call and pose as an Air Force member, asking to speak to a high-ranking Air Force official to find out if he/she is deployed or away from base. A stranger may approach an Air Force member in uniform at an off-base restaurant and, feigning curiosity, strike up a conversation: "Oh you work at Minot. What do you do? ... How many people from your office are deployed? ...What kind of planes do you have on base, etc?" Although these questions may seem harmless, this is how terrorists gather insider information necessary to carry out their plan. If you suspect someone is trying to elicit information do not reveal anything and report the incident immediately. The third stage of planning a terrorist attack involves tests of security. This occurs when the terrorists attempt to measure the base's security reaction time and to assess its strengths or weaknesses. This may include someone driving at a high rate of speed toward the gate to gauge the guards' reactions or it may involve a person hopping the fence and seeing how long he/she can elude the guards. At this stage, terrorists are interested in finding out the capability of the security they are up against and how much they can get away with. Terrorists must also collect the necessary tools to carry out their mission. This may include purchasing or stealing weapons, ammunition, uniforms, military ID cards, or any other controlled items which could provide terrorists access to the base. The very last step before a terrorist attack is the dry run. This is the test run, when the terrorists rehearse their plan, map out routes, and determine the timing and flow of their attack. After the rehearsal, the terrorists deploy their assets and get into position. At this point, they are preparing themselves to carry out their mission. This is the last opportunity to catch the terrorists before the attack occurs, so it is crucial to alert authorities immediately. The Eagle Eyes program is intended as a community effort toward preventing terrorism. The community's assistance is critical in protecting the base, the community, and the country. However, do not jeopardize your safety or the safety of others. If you see anything out of the norm or suspicious activity occurring on or off base, report it immediately to local law enforcement or the 5th Security Forces Squadron, available 24 hours a day at 723-3096.