"Mission of border ' is not unique" for guards

ARLINGTON, Virginia (September 3, 2010) - almost 1 100 National Guard members are on the right on the southwest border, perform a mission that is very familiar to many of them, an official said cover today.

Jack Harrison, Director of communications for the Office of the national here, "this [mission] is not really unique", guard said to a table round bloggers DoDLive. ''"The National Guard has participated in border Southwest over the past two decades."

During this time, he said, members of the National Guard worked in the programme to counter drug in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

"Above and beyond the authorized 1200 for this mission, there are more than 350 staff counter drug [in these States] make this mission," said Harrison.

Close to 6,000 members of custody across the country have been deployed in operation Jump Start, two-year mission that took end in 2008.

"Therefore, is not new,"said Harrison.""

Many members of custody, which have been volunteering for the current mission of the border, have also deployment overseas experience.

"And Yes, these experiences are certainly useful for this mission," Harrison said.

Custody, he said, will act as "extra eyes and ears" for border protection and customs and immigration and Customs Enforcement agents with the mission of a well an.Et, they'll provide also entered identification and criminal analysis in support of these organizations, he added.

Custody on the southwest border mission involves mainly monitoring and otherwise performing enforcement activities, Harrison said.

""They will be armed,"he declared, but to be more self protection than anything else."

1,100 Troops on duty, there are approximately 975 armed guard and 100 air guard members.

Harrison, said members of custody voluntarily to this mission and are not called from a unité.Chaque State, he said, is employing volunteers to man border mission.

"There are no units or individuals outside of these four States called upon to assist in these four States," said Harrison.

Incremental deployment of custody members began July 1, said Harrison, noting that the year mission includes training, time time "boots on the ground" and the ramp down to the end of the mission.

Training may take two to three weeks, he said, and ultimate maqui berry review it focuses on the tactics of agencies and procedures so that any equipment that can be used during the mission.

Says Harrison is a mission funded by the Federal Government, but it is not by the Federal Government ordered.

"The Governor and the Adjutant General in each of these four States maintain command and control each person on duty", he said.""They control flow forces and forces on duty... numbers and they will be to maintain this level of control for the mission".

Harrison, said the total allowed for border guards up to 1,200 up to one year for mission is of $ 135 million.

Close to 1,100 member care currently on the obligation of the border, there are approximately 300 in California, Arizona, 90 450 in New Mexico and 225 in Texas.

"We take this task very seriously," said Harrison. "".The President asked us to support this mission, while the CAP and ICE appoint new agents.

"Everything is going as we expected it to go,", he added, "and we are on the right track for up to 1 200 people."