The Big Ending

"You saved the best for last, Dr. Moreno!" This was what several camp participants told me on Friday. And I have to agree.

It all began on Thursday with our visit to Old Dominion University's Vision Lab. ODU's Prof. Asari hosted our camp for an afternoon of technological delights. Several of Prof. Asari's Ph.D. students were on hand to offer demonstrations to the campers and to involve them in such technologies as iris mapping and scanning, facial recognition programs, and facial mapping. All of these technologies are used for security and intelligence applications. What was so cool is that the lab's staff emailed to many of us our own 3-D facial map! It was both creepy and cool (I saved mine as my computer's screensaver).

Then came Friday - the longest and fullest day of the week. It began with a trip to the Virginia Beach Police Explosives Unit where we were able to witness first hand all of the latest technologies and preventive measures that bomb technicians use. One of our campers (go Harry!) was selected to be the "trigger man" in a small scale explosives demonstration. What was most impressive was the willingness of the explosives unit staff to sacrifice themselves for their fellow citizens. This was crystal clear when we looked at the protective gear these staff wear. While the gear could protect them from a 10 lbs. TNT blast at 10 feet away, their hands were always unprotected since they are essential for their work. These staff are willing to take this risk to save lives. Talk about sacrifice!

In the afternoon we arrived to the Navy Ordnance Disposal Unit at Fort Story. It is hard to put into words all that we did at Fort Story. Simply put - it was an AWESOME experience and hands down the best field trip of the entire week. We crawled through constructed mountain caves (similar to those in Afghanistan), rode the MRPP vehicles through forests and dirt roads, and truly experienced so many other things that not only made us realize how priviliged we were to attend this trip but also helped us to understand the sacrifice and extreme training of American troops.

To top it all off, the camp closed with a first-class banquet at the Founders Inn. We were treated to an excellent meal and to the evening's keynote speaker Dr. Walid Phares - an internationally sought-after terrorism expert. The talk was great, the food was superb but more importantly, it was the relationships that had developed that week that were the most memorable. Several students came and thanked me for the week, for all of the trips and experiences, and for all of the fun. Some of them hugged me and asked me for future help and advice. Many parents thanked me for the camp and for all that their children had done and learned. And many of the campers hugged each other, exchanged email addresses and promised to stay in touch. It was wonderful and so fulfilling to know that all of our hard work and planning had a positive human effect, that a difference, a positive one, had been made on students and parents alike. This was the most enriching and fulfilling aspect of the week for me.

Now, I am off to go and think and plan about next year's camp. So the fun begins again...

In an Underground Location...

Under heavy security cover, we arrived to the Emergency Operations Center for the State of Virginia in Richmond. The iron gates were slammed shut behind our bus and one could feel the security cameras monitoring our every move. We had finally arrived at the secretive command control center!

A number of professional yet austere staff allowed us to enter the 24/7 compound and through what seemed to be a maze of cryptic hallways we arrived at the Virginia Fusion Center.

While this place is not involved in nuclear research, it is the core of Virginia's intelligence division with its access and use of VIPER - advanced, real-time, multi-dimension mapping that allows staff to view any part of the country and track any emergency. The VIPER was on full diplay and we were able to see it be used - we saw in real time a number of local emergencies throughout Virginia and also witnessed how the VIPER offers logistic solutions for each scenario. We were speechless. The power of this piece of technology is truly amazing.

We were able to tour this compound and the versatile and heavily equipped mobile command units- these are like rolling B-52 bombers with global communications capabilities and all the generators and gizmos one could ever want.

As usual, there is much more that I could write about. More to come later...

On the Ground at Xe...

The tour began immediately after the briefing. We boarded the bus and drove past numerous ranges and facilities where law enforcement and military personnel were training. We arrived at a "shooting house" and were ushered in to a compound where personnel train for urban warfare. We stood inside a room and hallway where hundreds of personnel have trained for close combat. The space was small and the room for maneuverability was sparse. There is no room for error here. We learned of the difficult cross- a place where two hallways intersect and where life or death decisions are made by counter-terrorism teams that attempt to secure buildings or hostages. Once again, there is no room for error. The level of discipline and strength on the part of counter-terrorism "on the ground" personnel is mind blowing. We all begin to understand why places like Xe exist and why they provide such a valuable service. The men and women who train here are no mere mortals. They are sophisticated warriors that have learned to balance the demands of war and civility - this is no easy feat.From the shooting house, we go to numerous ranges and see the driving track where personnel are trained for defensive and offensive driving in life or death situations. The parking lot is full of Crown Victorias and Suburbans - vehicles used for the track. According to our guide, the tires on these vehicles last 2 training days and the brakes last 7 days. Talk about aggressive driving! Demolished cars and even some with bullet holes also pack the lot.There is so much more to tell. It was a full day and it ended with Xe treating all of us to a superb lunch of juicy steaks and chops, desserts, drinks and much more. A high protein lunch for a hungry group counter-terrorism campers.

Our Arrival to Xe (Blackwater)...

After a presentation and discussion on mass media and terrorism, we began our trip to Xe. Expectations were running high and the weather was perfect - a crisp blue canopy and sunshine as far as the eye could see.

We boarded the bus and began our drive to Xe's 7000 acre compound in North Carolina. One of the week's speakers had commented on how impressive it was to see 25 young people with a desire to learn about national security. All of these 25 had been awaiting today's outing more than any other - Xe is infamous in the counter-terrorism community.

Xe's compound is huge. It is surrounded by North Carolina's largest soybean / corn farm. A sea of green plants borders Xe. Upon our arrival Xe's security detail reviews our permission to attend. The guard is serious - one begins to feel this place's intensity. We are allowed to go in, the serious fun is about to start.

After a 2.5 mile drive, we arrive at our destination. We are greeted and immediately told that no pictures are allowed since various State Department-approved intelligence groups are in the midst of training. We hear gun fire everywhere and see military and law enforcement personnel throughout.

One of Xe's highest corporate officials greets us and provides us with a briefing about Xe's operations. "Is there anything that Xe does not do?". This is the question that keeps going through my mind. Xe is truly worldwide and its capabilities are multi-functional. From community service and development to the GWOT in the rough terrain of Pakistan and Afghanistan, Xe is there and it is serving with excellence. Obviously no organization is perfect. But we are all impressed with their desire for excellence, effectiveness, and respect for law.

Once the briefing is done, we're off to the tour. I will write more later...

At the Coast Guard...

We spent the morning getting an amazing briefing about the Raptor- the USAF fighter, stealth jet. This was absolutely an amazing briefing by the plane's pilot.

After a great lunch at Langley AFB (great burgers!), we left to the US Coast Guard. Sec. Napolitano was here yesterday. The Captain of the station met and greeted all of us.

It has been a great day! Our men and women in uniform truly do a fine job!

Off to Langley AFB...

I slept like a baby last night. It was a great first day and we are off in just a few minutes to Langley AFB. We all have our walking shoes and plenty of water to stay hydrated. Many of the students have their "TOP SECRET" t-shirts and we are all expecting a great and full day.

The bus is already here and we are about to board....

USS Winston Churchill Tour

It is 1500 hours and we are receiving a first rate tour of the USS Winston Churchill - a powerful and state-of-the-art destroyer. This is an impressive ship and a great testimony to the fine navy of the United States. The captain of the ship took the time to meet with us and give us a briefing about the ship and its voyages. We have toured the bridge, the ship's weapon systems, and other fascinating parts of the ship.

One of the ship's flags states the revolutionary motto, "Don't tread on me."

Impressive!