PHILADELPHIA –
In an era of unpredictable global and domestic threats, the most powerful security tool at Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support is the everyday awareness of the workforce. To combat complacency, security officials are using Antiterrorism Awareness Month to reinforce that base safety belongs to everyone.
"I like to use the fire service as an analogy because that’s where I came from," said Derrick Sawyer, an antiterrorism officer with DLA Installation Management. "Over the past 100 years, we have been telling people to install smoke alarms, which reduce your chance of dying by 85 percent, yet people still die. It is similar here. If we don't continue to share the message, people become complacent because threats don't happen every day. We can't succeed if we depend on our security team alone."
Suspicious activity often begins with subtle surveillance or probing inquiries about operational details. The DLA Troop Support team can help counter these tactics by remaining highly observant during their daily routines, watching individuals outside the gates and keeping sensitive details confidential regarding travel schedules, high-value logistics and supply distribution.
"We start off with unusual surveillance or information gathering where people ask probing questions on vacation or at the supermarket about where you work and how often the gate is secured," Sawyer said. "They just need a little bit of info to piece together the whole picture. We also want people watching out for physical loitering outside the gates, and unauthorized inquiries about sensitive information like VIP travel schedules or high-value supplies."
Beyond physical boundaries, the digital landscape has emerged as a premier entry point for adversaries. Cybercriminals and intelligence operatives are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to launch highly realistic phishing scams, targeting Department of War employees to breach secure networks.
"Cybersecurity is the biggest threat right now because your systems can be hacked or you can be targeted online with fake job offers designed to gain sensitive info," Sawyer said. "With AI, phishing expeditions are so realistic you can easily be tricked into downloading a Trojan horse on your laptop. Even posting work pictures from a TDY trip online can give adversaries the small piece of the puzzle they are looking for."
Physical anomalies on base, such as unattended baggage or environmental hazards, also require rapid attention. Employees should never ignore unexpected items in common spaces or hesitate to report safety hazards, letting physical security professionals evaluate the situation.
"If someone left a backpack outside a building, we don't want people to keep walking by and not say anything," Sawyer said. "At least let security check it out. It's the same if you smell unusual odors, like when we had smoke from the mulch near some trees. Follow your instincts, call the security team or report it to DLA iWATCH, and let the professionals investigate instead of trying to be a detective."
When an active emergency or an immediate threat arises on the installation, the priority is getting law enforcement to the scene as fast as possible. Instead of trying to navigate complex administrative lines or internal reporting desks, personnel should immediately contact local police and tell them they are located on a military installation.
"In the past, they had people call Naval Support Activity Philadelphia, and then they called Philadelphia police, which would delay the response," Sawyer said. "They’ve changed it now and updated the process so that you just dial 9-1-1 if it’s an emergency. Philadelphia police will respond to support DLA security and contact the NSA Philadelphia automatically."
Vigilance must also extend at home, where off-base targeting remains a risk. Security officials recommend that employees vary their travel routes to disrupt potential patterns and maintain heightened awareness of vehicles potential following you from work.
"Don't drive home the same route every day so you have a better chance of spotting if someone is following you," Sawyer said. "If you suspect you are being followed, pull into a parking lot. If they follow when you leave, drive straight to the nearest police station to file a report instead of heading home. Then report the vehicle details to iWATCH the next morning."
Ultimately, Antiterrorism Awareness Month reinforces that an active, alert workforce is the foundation of installation resilience. By utilizing modernized reporting methods and trusting their intuition, employees become the base's strongest line of defense.