Navy Customs ... keeping the U.S. secure

Photo By Spc. Howard Ketter | Service members travel to the U.S. everyday for redeployments, rest and relaxation, and emergency leave from Camp Patriot, Kuwait. Each and every service member exiting theater must go through a screening process by U.S. Navy Expeditionary Logistics Group, better known as Navy Customs.  

CAMP PATRIOT, KUWAIT

03.17.2009

Story by Spc. Howard Ketter 

20th Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP PATRIOT, Kuwait - Service members travel to the U.S. everyday for redeployments, rest and relaxation, and emergency leave from Camp Patriot, Kuwait.

Each and every service member exiting theater must go through a screening process by U.S. Navy Expeditionary Logistics Group, better known as Navy Customs.

"All of us hold the responsibility of seeing that the mission is carried out under the command of Capt. Marcus McCance," said Chief Petty Officer Michelle K. Ramlow, Yeoman, NAVELSG- FWD India.

This group's mission is to successfully expedite military personnel who are redeploying or traveling on R&R through the customs process; ensuring restricted items do not enter the U.S.

"We ensure all gear returning with service members complies with United States customs regulations for re-entry into the U.S.," said Ramlow.

The process begins with service members arriving at Camp Patriot and being processed and manifested for flights through the U.S. Army Theater Gateway staff.

"Every passenger gets several briefings and one of those is a customs brief that tells them what they can and cannot bring into the U.S.," said Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Boudreaux, NAVELSG-FWD India. "Once they have been given an amnesty brief, they are brought out to my area and given another similar brief. We are service members too, so we know that when you're getting ready to go home the last thing on your mind is what contraband could possibly be in your bag."

After several briefs and the chance to remove any contraband from their belongings, service members then go through the scanning process. Upon entering the customs tent they place their bags on a conveyor that goes through an X-ray scanner monitored by one of the Navy staff. Service members are then scanned with a metal detection wand.

"Sometimes we get people coming out of Afghanistan or Iraq, who were carrying hundreds of rounds while on missions, that may have accidentally left some brass in one of their many uniform pockets," said Boudreaux.

Then service members are sent to individual stations where a member of the Navy Customs staff will go through everything in their luggage.

"We know it is frustrating to have to repack all of your gear, especially in a timely manner, but it's our job to do a thorough search and we check everything," said Boudreaux.

Once all of their luggage is checked, service members repack and move on to the next area where they put their bags that aren't carry-on luggage. The Customs staff has a special box that is a replica of the overhead bins on aircraft. Each traveling service member must be able to fit their carry-on luggage into one of the bins or they must put the bag into the cargo hold of the plane.

"We try to make this process as easy going as possible for the service member," said Boudreaux.

Once they're done separating their carry-on and cargo hold luggage, service members and their carry-ons are scanned one more time.

Once they are finished they are released to a freedom area, where they are staged until their flight is ready. The freedom area is made up of several tents with televisions, pool tables and other recreational activities. It also has a coffee shop and pizza kiosk.

"I know my Sailors believe in this mission and are outstanding at accomplishing their task of enforcing the rules and regulations of U.S. Customs," said Ramlow. "We received the best training possible to set us up for success."

"The best part of working here in Customs is the gratitude you receive from service members for sending them home safely," said Boudreaux.

• Date Taken: 03.17.2009
• Date Posted: 03.17.2009 04:34
• Story ID: 31216
• Location: CAMP PATRIOT, KW