Anti-terrorism classes prep employees for deployments, travel

Posted July 21, 2009
By Jerry Rogers
Norfolk District Public Affairs

7/21/09 - NORFOLK, Va. — When U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civilian employees deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan, they're better prepared for the circumstances, security environment and cultural differences, thanks to what they learn at the USACE Deployment Center in Winchester, Va.

Since its opening four years ago, more than 5,700 Corps employees have out-processed through the center, said Julie Shoemaker, Transatlantic Programs Center public affairs. "Additionally, more than 1,100 Army Materiel Command members have out-processed here since April 2007."

While at the center, employees receive required clothing, protective equipment and complete personnel actions. Other Corps employees, who have deployed previously, also teach common tasks and survival skills.

The one-week pre-deployment course is invaluable in familiarizing Corps members on what lies ahead, said Shoemaker.

Another course gaining increased attention throughout the Defense Department and other federal agencies, such as the FBI, is the Individual Terrorism Awareness Course, or INTAC. The weeklong anti-terrorism course, administered by the Corps' North Atlantic Division and taught in Winchester, compliments the USACE pre-deployment course by teaching at-risk personnel how to become hard targets.

INTAC targets deploying members of DoD and those personnel traveling overseas, and blends military and academia, lecture and intense hands-on training. Course topics cover reducing individual vulnerability to terrorist identification, selection and attack, how to react to a terrorist assault, and survival in a hostage situation.

People who want to know what's going on in the world of terrorism, should take the class, said Sherri Jefferies, who has completed the course prior to each of her three deployments to Afghanistan.

"From simple things like why there are no garbage cans on the public streets of London; to high jacking aircraft; to history from 9-11 back to the earliest known cases of terrorism; to espionage in both foreign and domestic governments ... this class is so interesting it will leave you craving more," Jefferies said. "I can't wait to take it again!"

District employee Nora Batten, currently the executive assistant to the commander at Camp Adder, Iraq, said the class had an immediate impact during her deployment.

"During one of my initial trips outside Camp Adder, our team was involved in a vehicle accident. Because of INTAC, I knew exactly what my personal security team would do to extract us from the vehicle. It certainly brought my stress level down. I strongly recommend INTAC to everyone who's deploying," Batten said.

Along with Jefferies and Batten, deployed district employees Johnnie Saunders, Chuck Copeland, Marshal Tucker Smith, Glenn Seay and Col. Dionysios Anninos, former district commander, have attended the course, said Jim Gorka, security chief here.

The course runs monthly and twice during July and August, said Gorka, and NAD pays for Army course attendees.