Border Security Mission
Story by SGT Charles Ames - Posted Sep, 2002
In response to a request from President Bush, and the Departments of
Justice and the Treasury, for additional security forces along our
nation's borders, National Guardsmen were mobilized from several
northern and southern border states.
In all more than 700 National Guardsmen left their
homes and civilian jobs to answer the call. Among them were 70
Washington Army National Guardsmen.
These Guardsmen reported for duty in early March of
2002 for a 6 month tour, under the direct control of the US Customs
Department and the Department of Immigration and Naturalization
Service's Border Patrol and Inspections Division.
Tasks assigned to these Guardsmen included assisting US
Customs Inspectors with the inspection of vehicles and cargo, providing
additional security at selected ports of entry and providing aerial
surveillance along Washington's border with Canada.
Although Guard members were under federal command and
control, a local National Guard commander conducted regular coordination
with Washington Guard leadership and the Governor Locke's Office.
"I've anticipated DOD taking steps to federalize
Washington National Guard members and to deploy them at the northern
border. I understand that details of the agreements between DOD and
other federal agencies and the federal funding among those agencies are
complete", said Gov. Gary Locke. Given the unacceptable risk of
security lapses at the US-Canada border, the deployment will strengthen
border control security staffing and will help relieve traffic
congestion and delays at border crossings."
All of these Guardsmen were re-deployed and returned to
their civilian lives in August of 2002.
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