Some tips to avoid becoming a victim of terrorism

Check out the tips that are bold for use during Paranoia

-- Encourage security awareness in your family and discuss what to do if your security is threatened.

-- Be alert for surveillance attempts and suspicious persons or activities; report them to the proper authorities. Remember, most terrorist attacks occur near the victim's home or office.

-- Vary your personal routine; be as unpredictable as possible in your comings and goings.

-- Check in with your friends and family; let them know where you are or when to expect you.

-- Always carry change for the telephone. Know the emergency numbers for police, fire, ambulance and hospital.

-- Know where to find civilian police, military police, government agencies and other safe locations.

-- Avoid public disputes or confrontations. Report any trouble to the
proper authorities.

-- Set up simple danger signals to alert family members or associates.

-- Carry identification showing your blood type and any special medical conditions. Keep one week's supply of essential medication on hand.

-- Keep a low profile. Shun publicity. Don't flash your cash.

-- Avoid revealing your home address, phone number or any information about your family --- unless you have good reason.

-- Keep your personal affairs regular, keep wills current, have powers of attorney drawn up, and ensure family financial security.

When you travel:

-- Avoid travel to areas of high threat unless it's mission essential.

-- Before traveling through high-threat areas and high-risk airports, review the Department of Defense code of conduct guidance for personnel subject to terrorist activity.

-- At your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate, ask the regional security officer about current security concerns where you intend to travel. Get briefed on precautionary measures.

-- Use military aircraft or a military charter when you travel in high-threat areas.

-- Avoid wearing military uniforms or identification on commercial aircraft in high-threat areas or high-risk airports.

-- Wear nondescript civilian clothing on commercial flights. Avoid wearing clothes that are clearly of U.S. origin, such as cowboy hats.

-- Wear civilian clothing, even on military aircraft, if you're making connections with a commercial flight that will go through a high-risk area.

-- Send classified material through approved channels. Carry it only if your mission requires you to.

-- Avoid writing your military rank on travel documents.

-- Avoid marking baggage with your military rank, insignia or duty station.

-- Avoid public areas of the airport. Proceed quickly through security checkpoints to await your next flight in a secure area.

-- Avoid discussing your military affiliation with anyone.

-- Be aware that hijackers may not all reveal themselves at the same time; a lone hijacker may draw out security personnel to be neutralized by other hijackers.

-- Blend with other passengers; don't stand out.

-- Remember that a tourist passport is only a shallow cover for your DOD affiliation.

-- Show your tourist passport for identification.

If you're attacked or captured:

-- Surrender; don't fight back.

-- Make safety --- yours and your family's --- your first concern.

-- Stay calm and alert.

-- Obey your attackers or captors; avoid provoking them; never threaten them with reprisals by your family, friends or unit.

-- Make mental notes of the gender, age, height build, race or nationally, speech, accent, mannerisms, complexion, hair style, clothing, scars, and tattoos of your attackers or captors. Note also the license, state, style, color, make and year of their vehicles, and any damage or marks.

-- Make mental notes, if you're moved by vehicle, of the movement direction distance, speeds, landmarks, distinctive orders and sounds..

-- Request at once any special medicine or medical care you need.

-- Establish rapport with your captors. You'll improve your chances of remaining unharmed.

-- Keep your courage up, even if you are not rescued at once. Remember, the passing of time usually works in your favor.

-- Conceal your access to any classified information.

-- Ask permission to contact the local U.S. embassy or other U.S. government representative, your commander, or family.

-- Follow a daily routine to lull you captors --- and to help you stay focused.

-- Keep a dairy if you can, both to occupy your mind and to help you later on --- after you're rescued --- to recall events.

-- Consider concealing any knowledge you have of your captors' language; you'll learn more if your captors talk freely around you, and they'll talk more freely if they think you don't understand them.

-- Try to escape only if you're sure you'll succeed.

-- Maintain your composure, dignity, and self-respect --- no matter how primitive your living conditions.

Officials add that the bottom line for travel is to look and act like a civilian, but avoid clothing that is distinctively American. 

They add to stay out of high-threat countries if possible.