The US Department of the Army has been working on a new Antiterrorism Strategic Plan since 2023. The plan, which is being harmonised with the Department of Defense, will update policy, training, exercises and how the Army investigates and shares information about terrorism.

“The threats we faced 20 years ago aren’t the threats we face today, nor are they the threats we will face in the future,” stated Maj. Gen. Duane R. Miller, Army Provost Marshal General. “Our adversaries are constantly evolving with the use of technology to identify vulnerabilities. It’s through this strategic plan that we hope to address any vulnerabilities and any threats we may face in the future.”

The program will allow Army civilians, contractors, Soldiers and their families on shared ground with the service’s antiterrorism goals and goals moving forward, he added. The Army’s Antiterrorism Division operated with multiple federal organizations, including the Department of Homeland Security, as they formed the antiterrorism program. This allowed them to share data on best practices and emerging technologies that could pose a danger.

Training, education and awareness remain the fundamental elements in the service’s efforts to prevent terrorism at home and overseas, Miller stated. The more aware our community members are, the more likely we are to receive advanced warning to defend against terrorist attacks,” he declared. “Constant vigilance, timely threat reporting, facts of antiterrorism prevention measures and Army leadership advocacy are vital to sustained prevention.”

August is dedicated to Antiterrorism Awareness Month to familiarise members of the Army with the threat and provide information on how to control acts of terrorism. “Soldiers who are aware of the risks and who report concerning behaviour can help prevent threats from impacting the local community,” he expressed. “Don’t be a bystander. Do your part as a member of the team.”

According to Miller, the fight against terrorism has moved in recent years from terrorist bodies overseas to individual domestic terrorists fueled by extremist ideologies. To fight the evolving threat, the Army has revised the antiterrorism program and continues to look for ways to improve protection efforts. The service is persisting to field and expand the capability of the Joint Analytic Real-time Virtual Information Sharing System.

JARVIS is a desktop and mobile application that draws information from more than 80,000 sources to provide commanders real-time data on potential dangers, so they can make informed decisions. Along with advancements in technology, the Army and the National Guard continue to conduct annual exercises to remain ready. The Ohio National Guard held their emergency response exercise in April with backing from local emergency services.

The exercise assessed how the responding agencies can influence control and containment of the situation as well as the effectiveness of the structure’s response capabilities. National Guard units from 12 states along with multiple federal and local mechanisms completed an emergency reaction exercise at the Anchorage Fire Department Fire Training Center in June. The training is designed to support readiness, validate reaction procedures and collaborate with partners.

These actions, along with others throughout the service, permit the Army and local partners to stay alert in the fight against terrorism. “We must understand the threat and be equipped to prevent any influence on Army readiness,” Miller said. “We’re confident the results from implementing the strategy will align policy, training, doctrine, collaborations and information sharing to satisfy the challenges of terrorism over the horizon.” Army personnel can report suspect behaviour to their chain of command or offer a report online through INSCOM’s iSALUTE form.