Photo By Sgt. Jennifer Amo | Leaders from the 273rd MP Company discuss logistics of manning EIT points. The...... read more read more
FORT BLISS, Texas – Soldiers from the District of Columbia National Guard are participating in annual training while providing support to Customs and Border Protection authorities in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California from June 16-June 27, here.
“Some of the goals that we hope to achieve out there is finding out what the best practices that the military have and incorporate that into what we do along the border. As well as providing training for the D.C. National Guard as they come here and gain insight into how we do training,” said Joe Romero, acting special operations supervisor for the Public Affairs Department at the El Paso sector of the United States Border Control.
DC Guardsmen conducting METL training as part of AT provides
valuable incidental support to Border Patrol with entry identification teams in which they monitor the border from strategic observation points and help with hauling essential materials across multiple states to help with the overall mission.
Lt. Col. Pia Romero of the New Mexico National Guard, said experiences such as these provide different experiences for guard members in different areas such as the District of Columbia.
Although operations such as these require lots of planning with Border Patrol and other federal entities, it creates strategic partnerships with United States Northern Command’s Joint Task Force North and other states said Pia Romero.
Missions such as this provide crucial training to soldiers while providing additional manpower to border agents.
First Lt. Susan Riopel, operations officer of the 273rd Military Police Company said, “Being able to be there for 24-hour missions adds more manpower and helps expedite intelligence gathering for border patrol. While for us to come and see what they do is a new type of thing. It’s a really new experience.”
“In addition, it allows us to move equipment in a faster manner due to the additional resources and gives the DC National Guard real world training environments,” said Joe Romero.
Experiences such as these strengthen core knowledge in soldiers’ military occupation specialties and tie into previous experiences such as deployments.
“It is similar to what I did during my deployment in Afghanistan such as dealing with area security and manning a fix and roving security point, but there are some unique differences since we are observers,” said Sgt. Aaron Young, a team leader in the 273rd MP Company.
“Our role is to support and report any suspicious activity to them, so the necessary action can be taken by border control.”
Ongoing missions such as the National Guard Counter Drug Program
have created a deep relationship with Border Patrol and subsequent missions such as this cement camaraderie between different federal agencies said Riopel.
Sgt. Michael Lee, a member of the 273rd MP Company said, “As military policemen we are tasked with security and maintaining different traffic control points. Missions such as these create more training opportunities and foster appreciation for the Border Control’s mission. Plus, it’s just amazing to be out here.”
“The second part of Operation Skyline is a long haul operation in which the DC National Guard actually assists Border Patrol by transporting a lot of resources and assets at no additional cost to the federal government across several states,” said Joe Romero.
“By assisting in moving equipment and working with the logistics service center, it allows us to be more efficient and fiscally more responsible during that time period. It is a benefit to both us since we are utilizing assets the Federal Government has in terms of the military.”
The complexities and challenges of this mission are the focus for many of the D.C. Guardsmen participating in the long haul.
“In a sense you are driving across the road and transporting cargo from one area to another, but most people take it for granted because they don’t realize the mechanics in which the item reaches there and how dangerous it is to transport, " said Jacques.
Soldiers manning Entry Identification Teams (EITs) and securing cargo for long shifts show their respect and admiration for Border Control and their respective mission.
This type of collaboration is a great opportunity to gain perspective on a national and worldwide level and creates an undeniable partnership between Border Patrol and the DC National Guard, said Joe Romero.
| Date Taken: | 06.23.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2014 15:35 |
| Story ID: | 137463 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DC, US |
| Web Views: | 330 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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