Operation Jump Start
Encyclopedia
Operation Jump Start was a plan to aid U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) , announced by President George W. Bush
in May 2006. It included the deployment of United States National Guard
troops along the Mexico–United States border. The mission entailed enforcement of border security and construction of a border fence. The rules of deployment were defined in a memorandum of agreement
(MOA) between officials in the Department of Defense
and the governors of Arizona
, California
, New Mexico
and Texas
as well as Mexico
.
National Guard members involved in the operation were not involved in actual law enforcement activities due to the political aspect of the US military on the US/Mexico border. They were supporting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
and U.S. Border Patrol
agencies with administrative, observational and intelligence gathering capacities, and civil engineering projects. By taking over these functions from the USC&BP, they freed up sworn agents to field units.
Military operations with Operation Jump Start were primarily to observe and report. The military was armed with the M-16/A2
or M-4
lightweight, air-cooled, gas powered, assault rifle
and an option to carry an M-9 pistol
. Many of the areas of operation (AORs) were in desolate locations; some locations were so remote that troops were sometimes flown in by helicopter. The US military set up entry identification team sites (EITs), also known as observation points / listening points (OPLPs), to spot undocumented aliens (UDAs). Some of those locations were equipped with forward looking infrared
(FLIR) systems or the ARSS ground based radar system. The other main purpose of the National Guard presence was the creation of the border fence. Even though many of the areas did not receive fencing because of their remote location, the fence provides a significant barrier against illegal passage into the United States. The ROE for the operation was very restrictive and only allowed escalation to lethality when met with an equal amount of force from another.
There were many times when US military personnel were targeted with force, mostly rocks and the like but occasionally small arms fire. Drug trafficking as well as weapons and human trafficking, were impacted by the additional eyes and ears provided by the National Guard.
Communications for Operation Jump Start was primarily by VHF repeated radio similar to that of law enforcement agencies but was also supplemented by long haul satellite radio (MSAT
). The communications was updated in 2007-2008 to allow for digital communication and further reach-back capability. The repeater team as they were called consisted of a small team of highly trained individuals who climbed tall towers to change antennas, replaced repeater equipment from mountain tops, and replaced radio equipment in vehicles and hand held units for BP agents.
On 15 July 2008, Operation Jump Start officially came to an end. At its peak there were as many as 6,000 soldiers and airmen on the mission with more than 29,000 from every state and territory. More than 176,000 UDAs were apprehended, more than 1,100 vehicles seized, more than 321,000 pounds of marijuana and cocaine were seized, National Guard pilots logged more than 28,000 hours of flight time for aviation assistance, and more than 19 miles of road, 38 miles of fencing and 96 miles of vehicle barriers built and close to 720 miles of road repaired. The total cost was close to 1.2 billion dollars.
In 2008, the award of the Armed Forces Service Medal
was authorized for National Guard forces deployed to Texas
, New Mexico
, Arizona
and California
to assist the Department of Homeland Security with securing the southwest U.S. border.
In May 2010, President Barack Obama
began a new chapter in the border mission calling once again on National Guard (army and air) troops, but this time only calling those troops in the border states for the mission. As of this time, there has been no mention of what the new border mission will be called.
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in May 2006. It included the deployment of United States National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
troops along the Mexico–United States border. The mission entailed enforcement of border security and construction of a border fence. The rules of deployment were defined in a memorandum of agreement
Memorandum of Agreement
A memorandum of agreement or cooperative agreement is a document written between parties to cooperatively work together on an agreed upon project or meet an agreed objective. The purpose of an MOA is to have a written understanding of the agreement between parties.An MOA is a good tool to use for...
(MOA) between officials in the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and the governors of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
as well as Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
National Guard members involved in the operation were not involved in actual law enforcement activities due to the political aspect of the US military on the US/Mexico border. They were supporting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is a federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security charged with regulating and facilitating international trade, collecting import duties, and enforcing U.S. regulations, including trade, customs and immigration. CBP is the...
and U.S. Border Patrol
United States Border Patrol
The United States Border Patrol is a federal law enforcement agency within U.S. Customs and Border Protection , a component of the Department of Homeland Security . It is an agency in the Department of Homeland Security that enforces laws and regulations for the admission of foreign-born persons to...
agencies with administrative, observational and intelligence gathering capacities, and civil engineering projects. By taking over these functions from the USC&BP, they freed up sworn agents to field units.
Military operations with Operation Jump Start were primarily to observe and report. The military was armed with the M-16/A2
M16 rifle
The M16 is the United States military designation for the AR-15 rifle adapted for both semi-automatic and full-automatic fire. Colt purchased the rights to the AR-15 from ArmaLite, and currently uses that designation only for semi-automatic versions of the rifle. The M16 fires the 5.56×45mm NATO...
or M-4
M4 Carbine
The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...
lightweight, air-cooled, gas powered, assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
and an option to carry an M-9 pistol
M9 Pistol
The Beretta M9, formally Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9, is a 9×19mm Parabellum pistol of the United States military adopted in 1985. It is essentially a military specification Beretta 92F, later the 92FS....
. Many of the areas of operation (AORs) were in desolate locations; some locations were so remote that troops were sometimes flown in by helicopter. The US military set up entry identification team sites (EITs), also known as observation points / listening points (OPLPs), to spot undocumented aliens (UDAs). Some of those locations were equipped with forward looking infrared
Forward looking infrared
Forward looking infrared cameras, typically used on military aircraft, use an imaging technology that senses infrared radiation.The sensors installed in forward looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other thermal imaging cameras, use detection of infrared radiation, typically emitted from a...
(FLIR) systems or the ARSS ground based radar system. The other main purpose of the National Guard presence was the creation of the border fence. Even though many of the areas did not receive fencing because of their remote location, the fence provides a significant barrier against illegal passage into the United States. The ROE for the operation was very restrictive and only allowed escalation to lethality when met with an equal amount of force from another.
There were many times when US military personnel were targeted with force, mostly rocks and the like but occasionally small arms fire. Drug trafficking as well as weapons and human trafficking, were impacted by the additional eyes and ears provided by the National Guard.
Communications for Operation Jump Start was primarily by VHF repeated radio similar to that of law enforcement agencies but was also supplemented by long haul satellite radio (MSAT
MSAT
MSAT, short for Mobile Satellite, is a satellite-based mobile telephony service developed by the National Research Council of Canada. Supported by a number of companies in the US and Canada, MSAT hosts a number of services, including the broadcast of CDGPS signals...
). The communications was updated in 2007-2008 to allow for digital communication and further reach-back capability. The repeater team as they were called consisted of a small team of highly trained individuals who climbed tall towers to change antennas, replaced repeater equipment from mountain tops, and replaced radio equipment in vehicles and hand held units for BP agents.
On 15 July 2008, Operation Jump Start officially came to an end. At its peak there were as many as 6,000 soldiers and airmen on the mission with more than 29,000 from every state and territory. More than 176,000 UDAs were apprehended, more than 1,100 vehicles seized, more than 321,000 pounds of marijuana and cocaine were seized, National Guard pilots logged more than 28,000 hours of flight time for aviation assistance, and more than 19 miles of road, 38 miles of fencing and 96 miles of vehicle barriers built and close to 720 miles of road repaired. The total cost was close to 1.2 billion dollars.
In 2008, the award of the Armed Forces Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
The Armed Forces Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created on January 11, 1996 by President Bill Clinton under...
was authorized for National Guard forces deployed to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
to assist the Department of Homeland Security with securing the southwest U.S. border.
In May 2010, President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
began a new chapter in the border mission calling once again on National Guard (army and air) troops, but this time only calling those troops in the border states for the mission. As of this time, there has been no mention of what the new border mission will be called.
External links
- BBC News article
- http://www.ngb.army.mil/news/archives/2008/07/071608-Border_Patrol.aspx
- http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/archives/2006_news_releases/072006/07282006.xml
- National guard bureau July 11, 2008 (National Guard, Border Patrol celebrate continuing partnership)
- US Customs and border patrol July 28, 2006 (Border Patrol, National Guard Partnership Helps Deny, Deter Illegal Immigration)