Reading the Virginia story, about how one hurricane state has changed plans to speed up Guard deployment to the USA-Mexico border, with the proviso that troops may be recalled in case of hurricane, we wonder:
How many hurricanes away are we from a draft?–gm
Some in Guard border-bound
By AILEEN M. STRENG
astreng@potomacnews.com
Tuesday, July 4, 2006
Some members of the Manassas-based Virginia National Guard are among those who have volunteered to serve as part of President Bush’s effort to boost the Guard’s presence along the southwest border with Mexico.
About 350 soldiers and airmen from the Virginia Guard will be among 2,500 troops expected soon along the border. This includes members of the 266th Military Police Company from Manassas.
Lt. Col. Chester Carter, spokesman for the Virginia National Guard, said that at this time he did not have the exact number of Manassas guardsmen who volunteered.
Bush announced in mid-May plans to temporarily increase the number of guardsmen contributing to U.S. border security. Under the president’s plan, the Guard will provide mobile communications, transportation, logistics, training and construction support to the U.S. Border Patrol.
The guardsmen will not play a law enforcement role, officials said.
The Virginia Nation Guard will serve on a joint task force that will support U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Arizona as part of Operation Jump Start.
The mission of the Virginia Guard is to “alert, marshal, train, deploy, and support a joint task force,” according to Maj. Gen. Robert B. Newman Jr., adjutant general of Virginia.
Some members of the Virginia Guard will report for duty Friday and others will report in phases throughout July.
Once the guardsmen arrive in Arizona, they will support Operation Jump Start and operate under the control of the governor of Arizona.
Newman said initially the plan was to have Virginia National Guard soldiers deploy in support of Operation Jump Start after the hurricane season ends Nov. 1, but the plan changed when the new call went out across the Commonwealth seeking soldiers and airmen to support the president’s initiative.
The Virginia National Guard will still be able to meet the potential challenges of the upcoming hurricane season even with these soldiers deployed on the southwest border, Newman said.
When Hurricane Isabel struck in September 2003, about 2,000 Virginia National Guardsmen were deployed in support of a federal mission. Then-Gov. Mark Warner was able to summon an additional 1,100 soldiers and airmen to state active duty in support of hurricane recovery operations.
The Operation Jump Start volunteers could be recalled to Virginia in the event an emergency strikes the Commonwealth while they are serving in Arizona, Newman said.
“The Colorado National Guard has a long and storied history of supporting security operations at home and abroad,” Owens said in a statement. “I have every confidence that the men and women of the Guard will undertake Operation Jump Start with the same professionalism and work ethic they have displayed in the past.”
Although the quote is attributed to a statemend and press release, neither is posted at the Governor’s press archive (as of July 5).
The voices of dissent get lonlier…–gm
Immigrants celebrate Independence Day with Concern
Posted 7/4/2006 05:02 PM
West Virginia National Guardsman will serve as support for border patrol for 12 months.
Story by Kimberly Beary
90 West Virginia National Guardsman spend quality time with family today because tomorrow their patriotism will send them to New Mexico for border duty. On July Fourth, one immigrant celebrates with concern due to the mission.
Like many other restaurants, Cozumel Mexican Restaurant closes early on July 4th so employees like Jonathan Valdez then celebrate America’s independence day with family. “We crossed the border,” Jonathan Valdez recalls his dangerous trip into the United States, ” We were little, my Dad was carrying us and running to get past patrols.”
Valdez is not a naturalized citizen because his paperwork is still going through. But after 16 years here, he’s not worried about himself. Instead he’s worried for those risking their lives trying to cross the border that is armed with troops. “Something can happen with the troops,like if they’re really racists they might, might discriminate them immigrants or hurt them,” Valdez said.
90 West Virginia National Guardsman are some of the troops headed for the Mexico-United States border to help stop families like the Valdez from entering America illegally. Operation Jump Start is part of the Department of Defence and Department of Homeland Security. But Valdez, who says he knows more about American history than Mexican, doesn’t believe the action is the right way to control the migration.
“I don’t understand why they are putting the troops there,” Valdez said,”Mexico is a friend of the United States. I mean, they should not– should not do that.”
The border duty leaves this 21 year old torn between celebrating his independence and mourning the unfulfilled American Dream of so many others.
Tomorrow morning, Governor Manchin will sign the necessary paperwork authorizing Guard Members to serve in New Mexico for 12 months.
Copyright 2006 West Virginia Media.
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