The Military is Spying on AA Meetings

Peer support groups, also known as recovery support or mutual self-help groups (such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous) can be an invaluable source of guidance, assistance, and encouragement to individuals trying to overcome an addiction. Some of these support groups hold meetings on Joint Base Lewis-McChord / JBLM, providing Service Members, Family Members and Veterans the opportunity to seek help and support among others who also have experience with the struggles that can sometimes be a part of military life.

It has come to our attention that the JBLM DES / Provost Marshal's Office / PMO is preventing those seeking help from being able to freely access these support groups. And of even greater concern is that the DES "Protection Division" is attempting to identify individuals who attend recovery support meetings - claiming that these individuals may be a "Threat to Good Order and Discipline" and that a record of their addictions should be identified and kept on file by the JBLM DES / PMO. We have spoken with veterans who are being denied access to counseling and support on JBLM, and we have confirmed from DES personnel that the JBLM ATO is conducting surveillance of recovery support groups, not only on JBLM itself but in the surrounding civilian communities as well. We have seen copies of notices posted in the community, by JBLM, that state "THE JBLM ANTI-TERRORISM OFFICE (JBLMATO) MONITORS THIS LOCATION". (Based on the photo in the JBLM ATO Notice, JBLM is conducting surveillance of civilian communities because community members posted fliers warning that the JBLM ATO was illegally monitoring our cell-phone calls using Stingray electronic surveillance devices.)

No person can feel safe seeking recovery support knowing that the JBLM ATO is infiltrating these recovery support meetings, recording vehicle license plates in the parking lots outside of places where these meetings are held, monitoring our cell-phone conversations, and keeping a database of Service Members, Family Members, and Veterans in recovery - claiming that these people pose a threat to good order and discipline on JBLM.

We are asking that the Commander take immediate action to stop the JBLMATO from monitoring recovery support groups on JBLM and in the surrounding civilian communities and allow those seeking recovery support and counseling on JBLM access to the help they need without interference from the JBLM DES / PMO.

We are also reaching out to the community asking that you contact JBLM and request that they immediately stop their monitoring of recovery support groups and their surveillance and collection of data about individuals in the civilian community.

You can contact the JBLM Provost Marshal via email at: usarmy.jblm.imcom.list.des-provost-marshal [at] army.mil

You can contact the JBLM Commander through the JBLM on-line comment system at: https://ice.disa.mil/index.cfm?fa=card&sp=121425&s=957&dep=*DoD&sc=1