Security Threats

3.

Security Threats. Security threats are acts or conditions which might

disrupt the post.

Examples are damage, loss, or destruction of property;

personal injury or loss of life.

Compromise of defense information is

another example.

There are two major classes of security threats; natural

and human.

a. Natural threats.

Natural security threats are the consequence of

natural phenomena. Some, however, can be caused by human action. Physical

security measures cannot prevent loss, damage, or destruction of property.

They cannot prevent injury and loss of like due to these types of threats.

After natural disaster, basic security measures may be rendered ineffective

for a while. Emergency plans should be coordinated with physical plans. The

aim should be to control the situation and reinstate security measures.

(1) Floods, tornadoes, fires, and earthquakes are natural threats.

So are fog, snow and ice, and wind. Any of these can destroy installations.

Any can destroy lives. The actual effect of these on the physical protection

of the post is of prime importance.

Alarm systems may be inoperative;

communication will likely be disrupted; perimeter fences may be down;

property may be scattered, inviting looting.

Advance planning allows

security personnel to manage a crisis situation. It allows them to implement

protective measures to the greatest extent possible.

(2) Earthquakes frequently break gas lines.

This increases the

possibility that fires may begin. Security personnel must be on the alert to

notify firefighters immediately. Intruders may capitalize on the situation.

They may enter the post while security personnel are busy.

(3) Limited visibility creates vast problems.

The cause can be

darkness, fog, heavy rain, or sand storms.

Response time to alarms may be

restricted. Thus, saboteurs, thieves, and espionage agents could cause grave

harm before they are apprehended. Criminals can use these conditions to hide

their acts.

Careful planning should be done to provide protective barriers

and lighting.

These are necessary for secured areas.

Such measures would

offset the advantages criminals otherwise would have.

b. Human threats. Human threats are varied. They result from a state-

of-mind, attitude, weakness, or character trait. These may occur in one or

more persons. These threats include acts of commission or omission; they may

be overt or covert.

Any one of these threats could disrupt or destroy the

post operation or mission. Human threats are physical acts. Human behavior

cannot be accurately predicted; therefore, security planning must be based on

the assumption that a risk does exist.

Espionage and theft are human

threats.

So are sabotage and terrorism.

All of these call for grave

attention in security planning.

4.

Espionage.

a. Espionage is the act of spying on a country. It occurs when the agent

secretly or under false pretenses, searches out information or makes

observations; the goal is the intention of passing this data to another

country. Every member of the Army is a target for espionage activities. This

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MP1001