Arizona National Guard troops have begun practicing the skills they’ll need in the coming year, assuming support roles to free Border Patrol agents to handle law enforcement assignments in the Yuma area.
Some 50 to 60 volunteer National Guard members, the first Arizona troops to work under President Bush’s plan, began working June 19 as mechanics and radio dispatchers.
A total of 300 Arizona National Guard members are expected to arrive at the state’s border by week’s end, said Maj. Paul Aguirre, a spokesman for the Guard.
Guardsmen also are being assigned to Border Patrol stations in the Tucson sector.
The Arizona guardsmen will be doing “anything that the Border Patrol needs support with,” said 1st Sgt. Miguel Ortiz, an 181/2-year Guard veteran from Globe who in civilian life is a deputy warden with the Arizona Department of Corrections.
That could range from motor pool work including oil changes and tire repairs to communications specialists, administrative clerical duties, heavy equipment operators and emergency medical technicians, according to Sgt. Ortiz.
“The entire state and National Guard, in one shape or another, they’re involved in supporting the mission,” he said.
Guardsmen who have arrived in Yuma include people with experience as engineers, mechanics, medics and communications technicians trained in radios, cameras, telephones and computers — either through their National Guard work or their civilian occupations.
Efforts are being made to put the guardsmen into roles that best suit their individual skills, trying to accommodate both the Border Patrol’s needs and the levels of expertise the soldiers have “so they can make a smooth transition and do what they enjoy doing best,” Sgt. Ortiz said.
EMTs, for instance, could be assigned to assist with rescue efforts also handled by Border Patrol agents trained in search, trauma and rescue operations.
Some of the Arizona soldiers have seen duty overseas, Sgt. Ortiz said.
Assignment lengths will vary
Assignment lengths in Yuma will vary, said Sgt. 1st Class Charles Trujillo, a New Mexico guardsman for nearly 30 years who is a spokesman for the Yuma mission.
The time commitments could range from one or two weeks to six months or longer. “Some guys volunteered for a year duty right off the bat,” Sgt. Trujillo said.
Sgt. Ortiz added, “It depends on the needs of the Border Patrol. And it depends on what they are able to support the mission with.”
Sgt. Ortiz said the guardsmen are “mainly supporting Border Patrol. They’re not right now replacing their duties with a National Guard member. We’re just supporting whatever needs they have.”
“They’ll basically be the eyes and ears for the Border Patrol when they come on full-strength,” Sgt. Trujillo said. “They’re going to be supporting them on operation positions out in the field on the border.
“But for now, we’re just doing the background, establishing what positions we’re going to be needed for, how many people they’re going to need and we’ll go from there.”