Pfc. Nyatan Bol, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 7
San Diego -- Marines from Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force 7 (SPMAGTF-7) who are supporting the Department of Defense southwest border operations took time to interact with young men and women from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Explorer Program on November 10, 2018. The Marines are from bases across southern California including Twentynine Palms, and Camp Pendleton. Their jobs range from radio operators to intel analysts and engineers who are providing support to enhance the capabilities of CBP during the border support mission.
The CBP Explorers were invited by CBP Agents who served in the Marine Corps. The agents hosted Marines for a Marine Corps birthday lunch to help celebrate the 243rd Marine Corps Birthday with deployed Marines.
The CBP Explorers spent a few hours with the Marines where they were able to interact with them, ask questions and learn about what it is to serve in the Marine Corps. The Explorer Program according to the CBP website is geared toward young men and women ages 14-21 to introduces them to the “CBP mission, law enforcement careers, and exposes them to many unique aspects of the CBP law enforcement system.”
Lance Cpl. Shawn Coons, a Field Radio Operator from Twentynine Palms spoke with the Explorers who had a variety of questions about his job, and how the Marines are living during this mission. Coons said they have a “really good set-up here.”
He added that the weather, which has been in the mid 70s, is a much welcome relief from the high temperatures he usually experiences at his home station.
Coons who is from Albany, NY says he is proud to be a Marine. “I have a little brother who looks up to me, and that means a lot to know that I’m his role-model," Coons said. He says that he is motivated to be the best he can be because of the Marine Corps which has taught him discipline, and instilled values in him. Coons says he is grateful for the “opportunity to serve his country” in this mission, and future ones.
Coons’ first mission when arriving in San Diego was to help set-up the Command Operations Center with communications systems, to include radio antennas, which will enable the Marines to communicate with units supporting CBP at the border.
He is excited for what the rest of the mission will entail and views this as a good experience to work on his skills.
Cpl. Jeremy Crossley, a Senior Intel Analyst also from Twentynine Palms had an opportunity to show the Explorers the Puma, an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) during a static display. He discussed its capabilities, and took questions from Explorers. Crossley enjoyed interacting with the young men and women who he said were “curious about what being a Marine is like” and what his job is. He said was happy to explain and talk about his experiences.
Crossley grew up in Napa, California and then graduated high school in Ohio where he enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17. Now 21 years old, Crossley has had many experiences which have made him a better Marine, including a deployment to Iraq in 2016. He was inspired to join the Marine Corps because of his father, a Marine and several uncles who served in the Navy.
Crossley says being a Marine means “being the best of the best.” He added that “there is a certain set of standards Marines adhere to.” He explained that they were able to set up the COC in just a day, and that it is the “hard-charging” spirit of Marines that enables them to accomplish all of their missions, this mission being no exception.
The Marines are at the beginning of the border support mission and will continue to support and enable Customs and Border Protection with the goal of enhancing their capabilities.