SFS takes DOD anti-terrorism award honorable mention Published Dec. 14, 2006 By Sheila Rupp 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Kirtland is a unique base in that there are so many associate units here, but the cooperation between those units is what helped the base to earn an honorable mention for the Department of Defense Best Installation Anti-terrorism award for 2005. "This award is justification for all of our hard work here. Our anti-terrorism efforts here are efforts made by the entire base - this program encompasses everything," said base anti-terrorism officer Randy Arthur. Kirtland was awarded the Air Force Materiel Command Best Installation Anti-terrorism award, as well as the Air Force Best Installation Anti-Terrorism award for 2005 earlier this year. Many groups are involved in making the base a safe place. Mr. Arthur says Chugach and civil engineering has a large part in anti-terrorism planning in designing buildings, gates and fence-lines to specific anti-terrorism guidelines for protection. Individual units must also write their own plans for anti-terrorism efforts. According to Mr. Arthur, Kirtland's Threat Working Group is larger than most bases. Under Air Force Instruction, each base must have four organizations involved, but here there are 14-15 organizations represented, including associate units. The anti-terrorism program has been built over the last several years here, even though the award was received for 2005. Mr. Arthur said that there have been a lot of people that have contributed and continue to contribute to the efforts. He said that many times it can be difficult for so many units to work together because they may be under different major commands and may have different guidelines. That wasn't the case here because everyone at Kirtland came together and focused on one common goal, he said. Mr. Arthur credits Capts. Jim Walsh and John Edwards, along with Jim Allen, with helping to organize and initiate plans with anti-terrorism efforts as part of the anti-terrorism office here. "People here can feel secure and should go out and know that there are a lot of people at this base looking out for their safety," Mr. Arthur said.