Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Arkansas Soldiers Keep Watch on New Mexico Desert By Maj. Keith Moore, Air National Guard Public Affairs Officer
 LAS CRUCAS, N.M. - Another day on watch over the United States' border with Mexico dawns temperate and fresh. For the Soldiers of Task Force Arkansas, as they are known by their Joint Task Force Commanders and the agents of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it is another operational day. Like many days for the teams that man the entry identification team (EIT) sites, it begins by "drilling the checklist" or checking and securing materials to ensure they are ready for what lies ahead. "Batteries, [food], optics, vehicle [maintenance] and [communications] checks," and the list goes on as the Soldiers verbalize each item packed for the operation to carry them through the next 24 hours. The teams rotate on the EIT sites every 24 hours. The remoteness of the sites scattered throughout the New Mexico desert make it more imperative that the Soldiers go prepared. "We have radios to contact our command center and the Border Patrol station, but it's not like you can just run down the street if you forgot something. Once you get out there you kind of have to make due for 24 hours," said 2nd Lt. Brian Inman of Fayetteville, one of the officers who coordinates manning for the sites operating from Las Crucas. "The sites are covert, so we only change the teams once a day to minimize the traffic through the desert. This helps ensure the site is not compromised and reduce its effectiveness to the overall operation," Inman added. "We've been operating out here for about six weeks now, and we assisted the Border Patrol by directing them to apprehend 160 individuals already." As the teams move out in their Humvees to relieve their colleagues, one might ask if the vehicles are merely part of the standard equipment for these Soldiers or a requirement for the mission. The answer, the sites are only accessible by strong four-wheel drive vehicles like the Army's Hummvee. The 30 or so mile trek through the rough terrain of the New Mexico desert makes you wonder how anyone could survive on foot through the area. Sgt. Jay Sanders, of Hot Springs, Spc. Matthew Bealer, of Arkadelphia, and 2nd Lt. Inman relieve the team on duty and take responsibility for the site designated only as call sign "Bravo-2". The mountain top site is perched on the edge of a rock outcropping some 1,000 feet high. The small outpost is covered with camouflage netting to blend in with the cactus, yucca bushes and rock. The netting also provides a bit of shade from the bright New Mexico sun. The position of the site high above the desert floor allows the Soldiers a look-down vantage point to monitor activity below. "Our location here enables us to look down on what's going on and direct the Border Patrol agents right to things they may not be able to see at ground level," said Sanders, peering through a pair of binoculars at the wide expanse of desert below. "We had one instance a few weeks ago where a car stopped on the highway over there. Three people got out and started running through the valley. I called Border Patrol on the radio and they responded to the location we gave them. The car was already gone, but we were able to direct them right in to the people in the desert because we could follow their movements from up here." Each EIT site can monitor approximately 20 square miles of desert utilizing binoculars, long range telescopic sites and thermal imagery sighting systems for night time detection. Additionally, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has hundreds of unmanned electronic sensors scattered across the desert region to monitor any kind of movement. "It's hard to continuously scan the desert, so we take turns on the optics in two hour shifts to give your eyes a rest," said Bealer. "The Border Patrol also gets frequent readings off of a sensor and calls us to confirm if we see anything in the area. They have been really good to work with and provided us a lot of information on the landmarks and terrain features they use to designate locations out here." The austere conditions on the EIT sites are fairly typical for infantry Soldiers in the field. "Bravo-2" consisted of an improvised shelter using parachute cord, camouflage netting and the support poles and several rain ponchos. "It keeps the sun off of us, and helps with the daily thundershowers we've been experiencing here lately," said Sanders. "A couple of storms have been so bad that we opted to take cover inside the vehicle. The lightening is the scary part. Being up this high makes us feel a little more vulnerable when that stuff starts flashing all around." But weather isn't the only thing the Soldiers have to contend with, the animal life in the high desert region isn't too friendly either. "We see lots of big lizards, an occasional rattlesnake, and this one pesky squirrel that likes to run through the shelter late at night," said Bealer. "He's probably just looking for something to eat, but he usually scares us pretty good when he tears through here." The days are long and the conditions aren't great, but the Soldiers of Task Force Arkansas are dedicated. "It can be boring at times when there is no activity out here, but it feels good to be making a difference," Sanders said. "And when we do get a bunch of activity working, it is fun to call in and work with the border agents." Sanders added that a number of the Soldiers have come to like the roll they play so much that they are considering applying for Border Patrol positions when their tour is up in six months. Some Soldiers even volunteer to ride along with Border Patrol agents on their days off to hone their skills in spotting suspicious activity and learn how to track illegal movements throughout the desert. "It is good for our guys to see how the EIT side meshes with what the Border Patrol does in tracking and apprehending those moving illegals through the desert," said Inman. "Right now we see directly, and hear from the border agents we work closely with, that we are making a difference." **Related Links:** National Guard Southwest Border Support
    Southwest Border Support Gallery
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Washington Guard, Royal Thai Army Conduct Expert Exchange
 By Joseph Siemandel,
  Tennessee Guard Rescues Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains Park
 By Lt. Col. Darrin Haas,
  Champions Repeat at NH National Guard Marksmanship Match
 By Master Sgt. Charles Johnston,
  More
 Tennessee Guard Rescues Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains Park Guard News • 2 days ago
 Champions Repeat at NH National Guard Marksmanship Match Guard News • 3 days ago
 West Virginia Air National Guard Wing Conducts ’Super Drill’ Guard News • 3 days ago
 Idaho Medical Airmen Train in Field to Boost Readiness Guard News • 3 days ago
 Alaska Air National Guard rescues 6 plane crash victims Guard News • 3 days ago
 2024 (189)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil