NOTE: I am publishing this blog entry retroactively because during this time I was busy performing base defense operations and didn't have enough time to write and post.
The ten year anniversary of 9/11 has come and gone, and yet we are still on the guard towers augmenting the current force already there. Our terrorist foes love the significance of anniversary dates and we have intelligence that there's still a possibility of insurgent activity. What started as a three day voluntary assignment has turned into a continued presence based on a credible threat. So we do our best and watch our surroundings keeping our general orders in mind. "I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved."
Before we report to our guard tower posts, we're briefed with the latest intelligence information. This includes the most current BOLO (Be on he Lookout) information. This is a common term to law enforcement agencies as well. Typically the BOLO involves a vehicle of some sort. The description is usually general enough to fin the sometimes shaky intelligence, and other times it can be accurate enough to spot in a crowded street.
The BOLOs we typically get are usally vague. For example, be on the lookout for a VBIED (Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device) aka car bomb that is carried on a white "bongo" truck. This just described about half of all the rural/farm vehicles in the area. Or even better, look for a beat up late model yellow taxi with the make of a toyota sedan type. We're in a major urban area and I probably see several thousand cars fitting this description every shift.
In this land, we have to treat everyone as a friend, but we still keep in mind that they all could be an enemy. It's a difficult job that we tackle with a clear head and an ever watchful eye on our surroundings. Like an eagle atop its perch, we wait ever watching.
More to follow.
The ten year anniversary of 9/11 has come and gone, and yet we are still on the guard towers augmenting the current force already there. Our terrorist foes love the significance of anniversary dates and we have intelligence that there's still a possibility of insurgent activity. What started as a three day voluntary assignment has turned into a continued presence based on a credible threat. So we do our best and watch our surroundings keeping our general orders in mind. "I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved."
Before we report to our guard tower posts, we're briefed with the latest intelligence information. This includes the most current BOLO (Be on he Lookout) information. This is a common term to law enforcement agencies as well. Typically the BOLO involves a vehicle of some sort. The description is usually general enough to fin the sometimes shaky intelligence, and other times it can be accurate enough to spot in a crowded street.
The BOLOs we typically get are usally vague. For example, be on the lookout for a VBIED (Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device) aka car bomb that is carried on a white "bongo" truck. This just described about half of all the rural/farm vehicles in the area. Or even better, look for a beat up late model yellow taxi with the make of a toyota sedan type. We're in a major urban area and I probably see several thousand cars fitting this description every shift.
In this land, we have to treat everyone as a friend, but we still keep in mind that they all could be an enemy. It's a difficult job that we tackle with a clear head and an ever watchful eye on our surroundings. Like an eagle atop its perch, we wait ever watching.
More to follow.
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