BRAGGS, Okla. - Each May the Soldiers and Airmen of the Oklahoma National Guard Counterdrug Program and the Camp Gruber Joint Military Training Center partner with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) to conduct annual tactical drug law enforcement training at the Oklahoma Narcotics Assault Course(NARC) in Braggs, Oklahoma.
Working as force multipliers, National Guard Counterdrug Soldiers and Airmen work with OBN agents at the NARC to teach classes and conduct a field training exercise designed to sharpen the skills of participating law enforcement agents.
“The facilities at Camp Gruber and the customer service provided by the Oklahoma National Guard and the Counterdrug Task Force make this an enhanced training event of unique and exceptional instruction,” Darrell Weaver, OBN director, said.
Students began the course taking part in "day zero," which is comprised of a challenging obstacle course followed by 10 days of nationally recognized law enforcement classes on Global Positioning Satellites and land navigation, rappelling, tactical first aid and illicit drug investigation techniques.
“The training develops tactical and logistical skill sets that enable agents to operate in the most dangerous wooded environments," Matt Niles, Drug Enforcement Administration agent, said.
These skill sets are immediately put to the test during a field training exercise.
“This world-class training provides agents with the tools to help take down some of the most dangerous transnational drug trafficking organizations,” Jason Tucker, OBN agent, said. “Many of the large cartel grows are heavily defended and the NARC assault course provides the tools and techniques to dismantle these dangerous operations.”
Upon completion of the field training exercise, students begin the assault rappelling training. This three-day rappelling training takes students from the basics to assaulting down a building and culminates in 80 foot rappelling operations from a moving helicopter.
Law enforcement agents and officers from around the world have received enhanced individual and collective counter-narcotics techniques.
“The partnership between the Oklahoma National Guard Counterdrug Program, Camp Gruber Joint Military Training Center and the OBN agents has enabled the NARC Assault program to gain international recognition,” Lt. Col. Mike Koval, Oklahoma National Guard aviation commander, said.
This partnered NARC Assault course provides agents with training to enhance their ability to disable and dismantle some of the most dangerous transnational drug trafficking organizations.
"NARC assault is the premier counter-narcotic course,” Niles said.
Class 2015 consisted of 43 agents from across the United States and from as far away as Alaska. More importantly, NARC assault has gained international recognition. In the past, agencies from Germany, South America, South Africa and Jamaica have sent their agents to Oklahoma for the OBN NARC Assault Course.
“This partnership is making a difference in Oklahoma, the United States and the world,” Weaver said.