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Antiterrorism Measures to Become ‘New Norm’ at West Point in Wake of Threat

Cadets at the United States Military Academy march out of Eisenhower Barracks Friday, May 31, 1996, for their Graduation Parade at West Point, N.Y. The more than 900 cadets will graduate Saturday. (AP Photo/Jim McKnight)
December 9, 2015

Increased security, including random antiterrorism measures, will become the "new norm" at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in the wake of a possible threat, the school’s superintendent said Tuesday.

In a letter to the West Point community posted on the U.S. Army Garrison at West Point’s official Facebook page, Superintendent Lt. Gen. Robert Caslen explained that "force protection adjustments" like those that individuals at the academy experienced Sunday will become routine.

Federal and military officials were investigating a possible threat to the military academy, located in New York state, earlier this week. Other security measures were ramped up at the facility in response, including increased vehicle searches at entrances.

"We take operational security very seriously, therefore we will not discuss specific threats or how long these security measures will remain in effect. Recent events, abroad and at home, have shown us the need to take prudent steps to ensure our force protection posture can be increased both quickly and effectively," Caslen wrote in the letter.

"You should expect force protection adjustments like this to be the new norm."

Though community members will often be notified of these measures via social media, Caslen further wrote, the academy will need to conduct "random antiterrorism measures ... at an unpredictable frequency, rather than in response to a specific threat," in order to effectively enforce security.

The superintendent asked the West Point community to remain "vigilant" in the wake of the possible threat.

West Point first notified individuals of the threat in a Facebook post Sunday. The increased security comes days before the annual Army-Navy football game, which will take place in Philadelphia on Saturday.

Published under: Military , Terrorism