When a telephone bomb threat is received, someone has actual knowledge that a device has been planted or a prankster wishes to disrupt an operation. Noting what is said and how it is said during a bomb threat call can help determine which of these reasons is true. The person receiving the call may be the only person to ever have contact with the potential bomber. This is why bomb threat contingency plans must address the need for training persons most likely to receive a bomb threat call. When a bomb threat is received, the receiver must know what to do and how to do it, or valuable information will be lost.
Proper training provides the person with the skills to pick out important facts.
Signaling another employee to listen in on the call is worked out in advance where working arrangements allow observation. The second person concentrates on the characteristics of the caller and any background noises. The receiver of the call concentrates on the exact words of the caller. The receiver must try to keep the caller on the phone as long as possible to allow time to recognize background noises and gain additional information. See DA Pam 190-52 .