Learning Objectives

• • Recognizing risks associated with contemporary terrorism including an in-depth understanding of contemporary terrorist modus operandi.
  • Understanding technical characteristics of explosive events, CBRN weapons, IEMI threats, and ballistic weapons necessary for designing effective protective measures.
  • Identifying security requirements essential to reducing terrorism-related risk.
  • Assessing facility risks and utilizing risk management principles in anti-terrorism planning.
  • Implementing Operations Security (OPSEC) and protective counterintelligence principles to impair terrorists’ ability to gather target intelligence.
  • Designing and specifying physical security measures for effective performance against terrorist armed attack and IED delivery scenarios.
  • Developing effective entry control measures for validating, screening, and searching entrants at facility and building entry points.
  • Identifying hazardous devices, possible device components, and risks associated with hazardous devices.
  • Designing and specifying protective measures and facility improvements for mitigation of projected charge weapon, IED,  chem-bio, and IEMI attacks.
  • Developing an effective mail screening and security program.
  • Recognizing indications of terrorist attack or impending terrorist events.
  • Developing a facility-level Incident Command System and designing effective infrastructure to support emergency response operations.
  • Developing safe and effective procedures for responding to a full spectrum of terrorist attack scenarios.

The final exam for the S2 Anti-Terrorism Officer distance learning course is administered online as a 50-question multiple-choice test. Upon completion of the exam, your score will be automatically graded and documented in the “My Courses” table (accessible in your student dashboard). In accordance with S2 Institute policy, the online examination must be with a score of 70% or better to receive a Certificate of Training. If you do not pass the exam the first time, you will have one opportunity to re-test.

What is an Anti-Terrorism Officer?

As a general definition, an Anti-Terrorism Officer (ATO) is a security or public safety professional that has received training in measures for protecting facilities and organizations against terrorist attack. However, the specific application of the term has different meanings in different organizations. Some private security agencies, such as Critical Intervention Services and Pinkerton, employ this terminology for security guards that have received specific training in anti-terrorism related tasks. The U.S. DoD employs the term “Antiterrorism Officer” to define force protection personnel who have completed specific requirements defined under DoDI O-2000.16.

What is a Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer (cATO®)?

The Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer (cATO®) designation is awarded by the International Association of Counterterrorism and Security Professionals (IACSP) to individuals who meet specific eligibility requirements and complete the cATO® examination. Although the S2 Anti-Terrorism Officer course encompasses the full cATO® body of knowledge, attending the S2 Institute course is not required to obtain certification. Nor does graduating the S2 ATO course guarantee certification. The Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer (cATO®) certification process is independent from the S2 Institute course.

What are the differences between the S2 Institute and U.S. DoD Anti-Terrorism Officer (ATO) courses?

Although the topics and protective measures encompassed in the S2 Institute and DoD Anti-Terrorism Officer courses are similar, the U.S. DoD structures Anti-Terrorism Officer courses into levels in accordance with curriculum defined in DoDI O-2000.16 “Department of Defense (DoD) Antiterrorism (AT) Program Implementation.” The U.S. DoD programs are designed to present information specific to DoD policy, procedures, Unified Facilities Criteria, etc. The S2 ATO program includes much of this information, but also addresses many issues related to soft target facilities, protective approaches and research developed in other nations, and best practices beyond the spectrum of U.S. DoD doctrine.

Is the S2 Institute Anti-Terrorism Officer (ATO) course accepted by the U.S. DoD in substitution for courses defined in DoDI O-2000.16?

Maybe. The S2 Anti-Terrorism Officer course has been accepted in the past by U.S. DoD organizations when DoD courses were unavailable and the Institute has presented the S2 ATO course for U.S. military AT/FP personnel under contract by the U.S. Army. However, the S2 program and courses defined in DoDI O-2000.16 are different and there is no standing “waiver” or “official approval” that we are aware of issued at the DoD-level. If a DoD employee wishes to attend the S2 ATO program in substitution for a mandatory U.S. DoD course, we recommend they investigate within their organization to ensure approval.

What organizations have officially adopted the S2 Institute Anti-Terrorism Officer (ATO) course?

The S2 Anti-Terrorism Officer course is a mandatory training requirement for AT/FP personnel in the Netherlands and Singapore. As such, the program has been issued an official stock number for procurement by the Government of the Netherlands. The S2 course has also been officially adopted as standardized training by several European institutions including the European Commission, Eurojust, and the European Parliament. Special versions of the S2 ATO program have also been developed to serve as standardized training by the European External Action Service and Ministry of Interior of Iraq.

Is the S2 Institute Anti-Terrorism Officer course the same as the Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist (C.A.T.S.) program?

No. The programs are distinctly different. The S2 Institute Anti-Terrorism Officer course is a 40-hour/5-day program with a global alumni community of over 2,500 professionals since its development in 2004. The Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist (C.A.T.S.) program is a 24-hour/3-day class administered by Global E2C in Singapore. Global E2C is a private company and issues the C.A.T.S. certification as a credential to all who attend the course. Graduates of the S2 Institute Anti-Terrorism Officer course who wish to receive the Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer (cATO®) designation are required to complete a separate application and examination process. Those who pass the exam are awarded the Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer (cATO®) designation by the International Association of Counterterrorism and Security Professionals (IACSP), a third-party independent from the S2 Institute.

Why doesn’t the S2 Institute issue a certification for attending the Anti-Terrorism Officer course, as Global E2C does for the Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist (C.A.T.S.)?

All students attending the S2 ATO course receive a certificate of training, but not a “certification.” To provide our graduates with an opportunity to obtain a truly credible certification, we worked with the IACSP to develop the Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer (cATO®) credentialing process including candidate eligibility requirements, peer-reviewed examination, proctored testing procedures, and similar measures. Our aim was to establish a certification process for our graduates with a high standard of credibility. So-called “certification” means very little when issued by a private company with no other requirements than class attendance.