During the week of September 22 to 26, the Ramey Sector Border Patrol Intelligence Unit sponsored a training session titled “Threat Mitigation” among different members of the Caribbean Border Interagency Group and members of the Puerto Rico law enforcement community.

The Courtyard Marriott Hotel, located in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, served as the scenario for the training. Five instructors and observers from the U.S. Army Intelligence Center and the Joint Task Force North offered the training to 28 participants from Ramey Border Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard, ICE Intelligence, CBP-OFO San Juan, CBP-OFO Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Police Department FURA Task Force and several Municipal Police Departments.

The week long instruction taught the participants techniques on how to identify everyday objects and situations that could be used by criminals and/or terrorist organizations. Instructors employed power points and class discussion to show basic theory of how terrorist organizations identify targets and exploit their weaknesses.

The participants were broken into groups and applied what they learned in practical exercises. The groups identified specific targets in the local area and planned how a terrorist attack could be performed. They were limited to guidelines and restrictions on the type of “resources” and “manpower” available to them. They were then allowed to research their targets to create a theoretical plan. This exercise helped to place the participants into the mindset of a terrorist, which led them to think more creatively and discover for themselves the possible vulnerabilities of their targets.

After giving a final presentation concerning the planned terrorist action, each group had to further discuss how the vulnerabilities that they had exploited could be remedied. This developmental approach was used on specific targets in the local area but the theories behind the exercise are universal and can be used to identify and mitigate threats to any type of person or location.

This training exemplified Ramey Sector’s unconditional commitment to the Caribbean Border Interagency Group by supporting joint training initiatives among its members and local partners.