Army Guardsmen Provide Gold Medal Security

Story & Photos by SGT Charles Ames   -   Posted Feb, 2003

     The Guard prides itself on it on its readiness.  It pays off when you are selected to provide security to an event with global visibility.  Like the athletes that train years for a chance to compete, so Guardsmen relish the chance to use their training to support the public need.

Washington Army National Guardsmen provide security at 2002 Winter Olympics

     After the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 officials responsible for security in every area began to re-evaluate their operations.  One such operation was the upcoming Olympic Games.  With National Guardsmen already proving tremendously successful at augmenting security at airports throughout the country, the decision was made to call upon these Citizen Soldiers to help out with security for the XXI Winter Olympics.

     Members from Washington's 81st Infantry Brigade were called up to support security at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City in Washington Guards "Operation Cascade Sentry".

     Members of the 81st Brigade's Military Police Platoon, headquartered in Seattle, the 898th Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Everett, and Troop E, 303rd Cavalry, headquartered in Puyallup, departed from McChord Air Force Base last Winter, on their way to Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

     The troops were part of a force of over 3400 Guardsmen and 1100 other military personnel, from throughout the country, assembled to augment security for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. All military personnel worked under the supervision of the United States Secret Service. Their duties included screening vehicles and personnel at entrances to events and other secure areas in and around the Salt Lake City Winter Games site.

     Despite temperatures in the teens, high altitude, long hours, and a month away from families, the troops returned home knowing they have significantly contributed to the success and safety of this most spectacular event.

 

     According to a White House press release, security for this Olympics were "more thorough, more visible, better planned and better coordinated than any Olympics in history". Vice President Dick Cheney and Mitt Romney, head of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, thanked all the members of the security forces for their professionalism and said "...it may well have prevented potential threats or kept this from being a crime target".

     The Guardsmen returned Feb 24th, 2002, and after out-processing at Camp Murray, returned to their normal lives as citizens of the state of Washington.