U.S. military veterans living in Florida—especially those who served in Iraq or Syria—are being warned of a credible terrorist threat targeting retired senior military personnel, according to a security advisory issued by U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) on Thursday.
The “Duty to Warn” bulletin, signed by USASOC Provost Marshal Col. Mark A. Katz and first reported by The New York Times, calls on former Department of Defense officials with service history in those regions to “remain vigilant.” The warning, USASOC confirmed, applies only to retired personnel—not active-duty service members.
“We respectfully request that you share this information with any retired military personnel you know who are currently residing in Florida,” the memo reads. It also urges recipients to report suspicious activity immediately to local law enforcement.
Lt. Col. Allie Scott, a USASOC spokesperson, reportedly verified the authenticity of the warning in a statement. “It’s a credible threat,” Scott said. “We issued that warning, as we do with all credible threats. The security and safety of all our personnel is important.”
The notification did not name a specific group behind the threat or provide details on the nature of the plot. But officials deemed the intelligence credible enough to alert the broader special operations community and veterans’ networks, including via social media.
Florida is home to a large concentration of retired military personnel, including many from the special operations community. The state also hosts key military commands, including U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, and U.S. Southern Command in Miami.
USASOC regularly disseminates “Duty to Warn” alerts when intelligence points to possible threats involving current or former members of the U.S. military.
So here’s the deal: If you’re a retired vet in Florida—especially if your boots hit sand in Iraq or Syria—check your perimeter. Stay sharp. And if something smells off, don’t sit on it. Call the cops. Then call your old team.