FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE NATIONAL GUARD BEGAN TO POINT TO
BORDER STATES, THE GUARD IS GETTING AN EXPANDED ROLE.
AT ARIZONA PORTS OF ENTRY, STAFFING SHORTAGES REMAIN A
CONSTANT CHALLENGE. DOZENS OF GUARD TROOPS ARE
HELPING AT THREE ARIZONA PORTS WITH PLANS TO DEPLOY TO ANOTHER
THREE. WE GOT A BETTER IDEA OF THOSE
DUTIES FROM COLONEL HOYTE SLOCUM.
>> STUFF THEY DO HERE IS PRIMARILY PRE CARGO INSPECTION,
THEY GET INVOLVED LOOKING AT THE MANIFESTS SO THE RADAR OPERATORS
KNOW WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING AT, SO LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, PREPARATION
OF CARGO FOR INSPECTION AND THERE'S PART OF THE SURVEILLANCE
PIECE WHERE WE ARE ASSISTING THEM IN OPERATING THE NEW
TECHNOLOGY, THE CAMERAS AND THE SENSORS THAT WERE DEPLOYED SINCE
THE LAST OPERATION WHILE THEY HIRE THE PERSONNEL WITHIN THEIR
OWN ORGANIZATION THAT ARE GOING TO MAN THAT.
>> I KNOW THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE GUARD IS NOT DOING HERE AT
THE PORT OF ENTRY. >> CORRECT.
>> THE YOU CLARIFY ANY MISCONCEPTIONS THE GENERAL
PUBLIC MAY HAVE ABOUT THE WORK BEING DONE HERE?
>> PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONES IS WE ARE NOT DIRECTLY
INVOLVED WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE HAVE NO DIRECT CONTACT WITH
THE MIGRANTS, REUNIFICATION OR OTHERWISE.
EVEN HERE WE'RE SHOWCASING HOW CLEAR THE LINES OF AUTHORITY AND
RESPONSIBILITIES ARE, WHO IS LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WHO IS POUP
SUPPORTING THE LAW ENFORCEMENT. >> THIS HAS BEEN VALUABLE FOR
YOUR TROOPS TO BE ABLE TO DO THINGS WHERE PERHAPS THEY
WOULDN'T GET THE CHANCE TO DO -- >> I THINK THE REAL WORLD ASPECT
IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGE FOR THEM.
THEY'RE FIRED UP. THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE ON
MISSION, EFFECTING CHANGE, HELPING WITH SOME OF THE ENTER
DIXS, HELPING WITH SOME OF THE COUNT FIT STUFF COMING THROUGH.
OUR MAINLINE OF FOCUS IS ON THE TRANSNATIONAL ELICIT ACTIVITIES.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HERE.
>> OFFICER GARTH GROSSO OVERSEES TRADE.
HE SAYS NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS RECEIVE SEVERAL DAYS OF HANDS-ON
TRAINING BEFORE THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN INSPECTION.
>> SEVEN-DAY FIELD TRAINING WITH OUR OFFICERS.
FOR SEVEN DAYS THEY WERE SIDE BY SIDE WITH OUR OFFICERS, TEACHING
THEM JUST THE PHYSICAL INSPECTION OF THE COMMODITIES:
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR COUNTERFEIT MERCHANDISE, IMPROPER LABELING,
ANY KIND OF CONTRABAND, NARCOTICS, STUFF LIKE THAT.
>> THE GUARD EFFORT RELIEVES STAFFING PRESSURES.
DIRECTOR MIKE HUMPHRIES SAYS THERE ARE ABOUT 140 VACANCIES AT
THIS PORT OF ENTRY, MUCH NEEDED AS SMUGGLERS UP THEIR GAME.
THIS YEAR OFFICERS HAVE SEIZED MORE THAN 8,000 POUNDS OF METH.
>> OUR OFFICERS HAVE OTHER DUTIES TO INCLUDE TRAINING,
MAINTAIN ALL THEIR PROFICIENCIES.
SO AT TIMES NOW WE CAN, INSTEAD OF PAYING OVER TIME, WE CAN GET
THE OFFICERS IN TO GET IT DONE. >> OFFERING HER HELP TODAY IS
PRIVATE TESSA GREGG. HER DEPLOYMENT BEGAN ABOUT TWO
MONTHS AGO. SHE SAID WHEN SHE JOINED THE
ARIZONA NATIONAL GUARD LAST YEAR, SHE NEVER ANTICIPATED IT
WOULD TAKE HER TO THE PORTS. >> I NEVER THOUGHT I'D BE DOING
THIS KIND OF THING. I'M GLAD I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
THERE'S ABOUT TEN OF US WORKING, AND WE AULD JUMP IN TO HELP.
>> THE GUARD IS KIND OF UNIQUE IN THAT WE HAVE ALL THESE OTHER
WORLDS THAT WE COME FROM. THEY ALL HAVE CIVILIAN KPLOERS.
SOME ARE ENGINEERS, PROJECT MANAGERS, COPS, FIREMEN, NURSES,
ALL OF IT. THIS IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO ADD
DEPTH AND BREADTH TO WHAT THEY ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO.
>> ARE THERE THINGS THAT YOU'RE PROUD OF THAT YOU'VE BEEN A PART
OF? >> IT'S A TOUGH METRIC TO TRACK.
IT'S LIKE HOW DO I MEASURE MY SITUATIONAL AWARENESS?
I CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY THOUSAND HOURS WE SPENT LOOKING THROUGH
CAMERAS. WE DON'T TRACK AS A SEPARATE
METRIC HOW MANY DRUGS ARE DIRECTLY INTERDICTED BY BADGES
WE PUSH TO THE BORDER. THAT WAS TOO TOUGH TO MANAGE.
THE DIRECTOR'S REMARKS ARE CORRECT, EVERY SEIZURE, EVERY
INTERDICTION IS A VICTORY. WE'LL TAKE IT AND TAKE ALL THE
HELP WE CAN GET. >> A AS THE FISCAL YEAR COMES TO
AN END, DOES YOUR STRATEGY CHANGE?
>> IT IS NOT FUNDED INTO NEXT YEAR.
WE WOULD DEMOBILIZING. IF IT DOES CONTINUE, WE WILL
CONTINUE TO BUILD AND CONTINUE TO DO THESE MISSION SETS INTO
2019 OR FURTHER IF THEY ASK FOR IT.
>> THIS WEEK WE ALSO LEARN GUARD TROOPS ARE ASSISTS BORDER
SHERIFFS. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS IT HAS
SIX GUARD MEMBERS WORKING IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS TO INCLUDE
ANALYZING VIDEO FOOTAGE.