Anti-Terrorism and Diplomatic Security Course
The S2 Anti-Terrorism and Diplomatic Security training course is designed to prepare Regional Security Officers for assignments involving the protection of diplomatic facilities against terrorist attack. This program provides a detailed exploration of contemporary terrorist methods and essential skills and knowledge necessary for managing terrorism-related risks against diplomatic missions.
The information presented in this course reflects best practices in anti-terrorism, physical security, and emergency preparation as specifically applicable to Ministry of Foreign Affairs facilities. The measures presented in this course are based on the instructor’s decades of experience assisting organizations in managing risks of terrorist violence, critical evaluation of hundreds of terrorist attacks, and analysis of methods for managing terrorism-related threats pioneered by diplomatic security services throughout the world.
The basic 5-day version of the Anti-Terrorism and Diplomatic Security training course explores the threat of terrorism and effective security measures for protecting diplomatic facilities. The 8-day advanced version of this program includes an added day of training in personnel security and special events, and two days of in-class exercises focusing on risk and vulnerability assessment methods.
Summary of topics in the basic-level course include:
Diplomatic Security and The Terrorist Threat • Dynamics of Terrorist Attacks • Advanced IED Threat M.O. • Chem-Bio Terrorism • AT Countermeasures & Security Risk Management Concepts • Protective Counterintelligence and Operations Security • Physical Security Design and Entry Control Planning for Diplomatic Missions • Blast & Weapons Effects Mitigation • Mail Security Planning • Emergency Response Planning & Infrastructure Design • Response to Armed Attacks • Bomb Threat Management • Suspect IED & VBIED Response • Post-Blast Response • CBRN Attack Response
See the outline below for a detailed description of diplomatic security training topics encompassed in both versions of the program.
- Recognizing current trends and risks associated with terrorism against diplomatic missions including an in-depth understanding of contemporary terrorist modus operandi.
- Understanding technical characteristics of explosive events, CBRN weapons, and ballistic weapons necessary for designing effective protective measures.
- Identifying security requirements essential to reducing terrorism-related risk against diplomatic facilities.
- Assessing facility risks and utilizing risk management principles in security planning and emergency preparation.
- 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 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, and chem-bio attacks.
- Developing an effective mail screening program.
- Recognizing indications of terrorist attack or impending terrorist events.
- Developing an Incident Command System and designing effective infrastructure to support emergency response operations at the mission-level.
- Developing safe and effective procedures for responding to a full spectrum of terrorist attack scenarios against diplomatic facilities.
Anti-Terrorism and Diplomatic Security – Basic Course
DAY ONE
- The Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer
- ATO Skills
- IACSP cATO Certification Process
- Introduction to Terrorism
- Ideological Motives & Actors
- Strategic Objectives
- Types of Terrorist Targets
- Target Selection Criteria
- Categories of Terrorism Related Risk
- Terrorist Planning and Execution Phases
- Threat: Explosive Attacks
- Types of Explosive Devices
- Blast Dynamics
- Technical Characteristics of Explosives
- Common Explosives
- Unique IED Construction Methods
- Activation
- Device Concealment
- Damage Potential
- IED Delivery and Attack Scenarios
- PBIED
- VBIED
- Projected Charge Weapons
- Installation Devices
- Unique Terrorist M.O.
- Threat: Chemical & Biological Terrorism
- Why Use CB Agents?
- Historical CB Terrorists & Incidents
DAY TWO
- Threat: Chemical & Biological Terrorism (cont.)
- Terrorist vs Military Agents
- Routes of Exposure
- Symptoms
- Chemical Agents
- Agents of Biological Origin
- Dissemination of CB Agents
- Chemical & Biological Terrorist Attack Scenarios Against Facilities/Orgs
- Risk Management & Anti-Terrorism Security Planning
- Risk Management Principles
- Integrated Countermeasures Strategy
- Adapting Risk Management Strategy to Application
- Operations Security (OPSEC) & Protective Counterintelligence
- Terrorist Intelligence Requirements
- Terrorist Intelligence Collection Methods
- Information Security
- Employee/Contractor Screening & Monitoring
- Surveillance Detection Measures
- Suspicious Activity Reporting & Analysis
- Physical Security & Entry Control
- Physical Protection System (PPS) Theory & Design Principles
- Intrusion Detection & Attack Recognition Systems
DAY THREE
- Physical Security & Entry Control (cont.)
- Area Surveillance
- CCTV
- Officer Posts & Patrols
- IED Delivery Indicators
- Control Rooms
- Barriers
- Anti-Personnel Barriers
- AP Barriers & Delay Time
- Intrusion-Resistance Standards
- Ballistic Barrier Construction & Specification
- Protective Layer Design
- Façade and Entrance Design
- Secure Lobby Design
- Safe Rooms
- Anti-Personnel Barriers
- Egress Design
- Response Force Planning
- Personnel Selection & Training
- Tactical Response Strategies
- Vehicle Barriers
- Vehicle Entry Point Design
- Entry Control
- Planning Considerations
- Entrant Verification Methods & Applications
- Contraband Screening Technologies
- Human Entry Screening Procedures
- SPBIED Detection and Containment
- Vehicle Entry Screening Procedures
DAY FOUR
- Facility Design and Mitigative Measures
- Limiting Concealment Opportunities
- Protection Against Projected Charge Attacks
- UAVBIED/Drone Countermeasures
- Blast Mitigation & Facility Design
- Minimizing Fragmentation Hazards
- Blast Walls
- Structural Design to Mitigate Progressive Collapse
- Façade Construction & Fenestration
- Emergency Access & Evacuation Requirements
- Protection of Building Subsystems
- Utilization & Protective Asset Positioning
- Chemical & Biological Attack Risk Mitigation
- Measures for Protection Against Contaminated Consumable Attacks
- HVAC System Protection
- Facility Design
- ColPro & HVAC Filtration Systems
- IEMI Protection
- Conducted IEMI Protection
- Radiated IEMI Protection
- Mail Security
- Mail Security Planning
- Physical Mail Screening
- Mail Screening Technologies
- Response to Hazardous Mailings
- Suspect Mail Bomb Response
- Response to Contaminated Mailings
DAY FIVE
- Response to Terrorist Incidents
- Incident Response Scenarios
- Response Priorities
- Responsibilities & Incident Command Systems
- Communications Systems and Infrastructure Design
- Active Shooter/Terrorist Armed Attack Response Planning
- Bomb Threat Response Planning
- Search and Response Approaches & Procedures
- Response to Suspicious Objects
- Suspicious Vehicle Response
- Alert & Refuge Procedures
- TSWG Evacuation and Refuge Guidelines
- Post-Blast Response
- Localized Bombings
- Conventional Weapon of Mass Destruction Incidents
- Chemical & Biological Attack Response
- Public Safety Response Sequence
- CB Attack Recognition
- Response to Indoor Aerosol/Vapor Attacks
- Emergency Decontamination
- Response to Outdoor Aerosol/Vapor Attacks
- Shelter-In-Place Procedures (CB incidents)
- Shelter-in-Place during Radiological and Nuclear Events
- Shelter-In-Place Procedures (CB incidents)
- Response to Covert CB Attacks
Anti-Terrorism and Diplomatic Security – Advanced Course
All topics encompassed in the basic course, in addition to the following three training days.
IACSP Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer (cATO®) Professional Certification

As a further step for professional development, S2 encourages all RSO’s who graduate the Anti-Terrorism and Diplomatic Security training course to seek certification through the IACSP Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer (cATO®) program. Approximately 85% of the cATO® body of knowledge is encompassed in the Anti-Terrorism and Diplomatic Security course.
The Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer (cATO®) credential is awarded independently through the International Association for Counterterrorism and Security Professionals to eligible candidates who successfully pass a 100-question examination based on content included in the S2 Institute Anti-Terrorism Officer (ATO) course.
Information about the IACSP Certified Anti-Terrorism Officer application, examination, and certification process is available online: www.catocertification.org.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Attending the Anti-Terrorism and Diplomatic Security training program does not guarantee award of IACSP cATO® certification. All course graduates pursuing certification after attending the program must meet essential eligibility criteria and complete the independent application and certification process including successful completion of the cATO® examination.
The S2 Anti-Terrorism and Diplomatic Security training course was originally developed in 2014 to provide Regional Security Officers (RSO’s) employed by the European External Action Service (EEAS) with a standardized level of knowledge in anti-terrorism and diplomatic security topics. During 2014 and 2015, several courses were conducted at the EEAS headquarters in Brussels to train the organization’s global team of RSO’s. When completed, over 80 Regional Security Officers and EEAS headquarters security specialists graduated the program.
Similar programs have also been developed and presented for organizations such has the European Commission and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Following are some highlights of our experience over the past 22 years related to anti-terrorism and diplomatic security training.
Present

S2 ATO Course becomes the first advanced-level anti-terrorism training program in West Africa

S2 ATO Program becomes the basis for a new professional certification

European Commission adopts the S2 Anti-Terrorism Officer Program

The Government of the Netherlands officially endorses the S2 Anti-Terrorism Officer Program

S2 Assessing Terrorism Related Risk Workshop is adopted by the European Commission

Public ATRR Assessing Terrorism Related Risk Workshops resume

S2 ATO Program adopted for training EEAS RSOs

U.S. DoD engages S2 to train senior intelligence officers in counterterrorism

S2 ATRR Workshop is adopted by OSCE for training the MoNS of Azerbaijan

S2 Institute develops a special version of the ATO Program for use by the Iraqi Ministry of Interior

S2 ATO Program is adopted by OSCE for training government security professionals in the Caucasus region
S2 ATO Program is adopted by US DoD for training Saudi and American base security personnel

S2 is contracted by US Army to train AT/FP personnel on CONUS military installations

S2 trains the U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons in bomb security

S2 trains Illinois police officers in response to IED incidents

S2 trains US Capital Police and PFPA personnel in anti-terrorism and WMD readiness

S2 Assessing Terrorism Related Risk Workshop endorsed by U.S. Department of Justice
Ref. Leson, Joel. Assessing and Managing the Terrorism Threat. Washington, DC: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2005. Print

S2 ATO Program is adopted for protecion of US critical infrastructure

FLETC conducts peer review of the S2 ATRR program
S2 Assessing Terrorism Related Risk Workshop is developed

S2 Institute assists AICHe CCPS in preparing chemcial companies for terrorism threats
S2 Anti-Terrorism Officer Program is created
Bomb Countermeasures CD-ROM is released
S2 conducts a series of advanced WMD courses for the State of Pennsylvania
Course Details
Instructor
Craig Gundry
Restriction Level
Level 2 – Verified Security Professionals & Law Enforcement Only
Presentation Time
Basic: 40-Hrs/5 Days
Advanced: 63-Hours/8 Days
Audience
Regional Security Officers, Security Professionals Employed by Ministries of Foreign Affairs
Student Testimonials

"In all of my travels and training, military and civilian, I rarely have the pleasure of encountering such professional instructors and presentations. The knowledge possessed and demonstrated by the instructor staff sets the bar for all civilian training agencies to follow…"
J. White
Advanced Training Section, U.S. SOCOM

“The instructor knew all the subjects like the back of his hand…A+++!"
SMSgt G. Enwright
Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, USAF

"The class met all of my expectations and even more."
M. Florescu
National Bank of Romania

"I have had a few terrorism / anti-terrorism classes, but none have come close to the intensity and historical background as the S2 course. Your course is what every law enforcement officer should be taking."
R. Bast
U.S. Department of Treasury

"Really excellent. A lot of practical advice that one can use in one's everyday work. Excellent."
J. Perois
Dolphin Energy

"I thought this course was very well done. The topics very relevant and up to date with what is currently going on. This is definitely a "must take" course for anyone dealing with physical security/anti-terrorism matters."
C. Vernieuw
U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

"Very interesting course! The in-depth instruction is very high and the knowledge of the instructor is amazing. I think this course is a must for even people already active in the spectrum."
M. Scharding
The Swatch Group

"Very relevant and a must for security professionals in the emerging dynamic services. The program is targeted to address all of the major contemporary security issues globally."
Dr. A. Acidah
Nigeria LNG Limited

“Great stuff! Presentation was of high standard…I personally give thanks to S2 for the opportunity. Thank You!”
F. Gaspar
U.S. Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit

“I think this course is really excellent. I have been involved in AT matters for a number of years, however, I found many new and valuable insights.”
J. Dos Santos
IBM Pacific Asia

“The course is given in a very professional manner. Will highly recommend this course!”
K. Bergwerff
Ministry of Justice, Netherlands

“The class is totally useful and helpful. The instructor is amazing...Perfect. One of the best courses I have ever taken in my professional career.”
Gen. M. Ebeid
American University in Cairo

“Excellent instruction. Very interesting course and professionally presented.”
C. Hodson
Walt Disney Corporation

"The instructor was very knowledgeable and experienced. The course was well prepared and presented.”
A. Logtenberg
European Commission

“This course takes anti-terrorism theory and puts it in a practical perspective. I would rate it very high against the other anti-terrorism training I have had.”
E. Vogt
U.S. DOJ, Federal Bureau of Prisons

“The best training I’ve ever had. Extraordinary trainer. Extremely important.”
M. Cerasoli
European Commission

“I wanted to congratulate and strongly encourage you to continue to raise the bar...my job responsibilities require continuous and active education and training and I must say that your ATO course is one, if not the best I have ever taken.”
A. Baez, M.D.
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

"Mr. Gundry has to be one of the most knowledgable instructors on terrorism in the country. He lives and breathes anti-terrorism.”
P. Reilly
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Dept.

"I found this course to be extremely informative and thorough...The course is excellent the way it's presented."
S. Cheston
U.S. Dept of Defense

"The overall course was excellent. I would recommend other personnel within security and emergency services to take it."
C. Parrish
U.S. Army

"Excellent!"
R. Coursey
U.S. Department of State
Previous S2 Anti-Terrorism Courses

Cairo 2019

Accra 2019

Accra 2018

Rome 2018

The Hague 2018

New York 2017

Stockholm 2016

Mumbai 2016

Prague 2016

The Hague 2015

EEAS Brussels 2015

Geneva 2014

Paphos 2014

Stockholm 2013

Singapore 2013

Köln 2013

New York 2013

Singapore 2012

Manila 2013

Leiden 2011

Baghdad 2010

OSCE Baku 2010

Singapore 2010

OSCE Tbilisi 2009

Sydney 2009

Dubai 2008
