US Navy Customs
Encyclopedia
The United States Navy Customs mission is one that is assigned to the Commander, Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG). The mission is overseen in the Central Command Theater of Operations by Navy Expeditionary Logistics Support Group Forward Headquarters, as well as the Commander, USCENTCOM.
The Navy Customs mission is detailed by Navy Reserves and augmented by active duty navy, they are mobilized for a period of 240 days. Upon receipt of orders for mobilization
, the reserve members report to a Navy Mobilization Processing Site for processing and screening to ensure they are fit for duty, and have no issues that will preclude them from carrying out their primary mission. This process usually takes approximately two weeks from when they report in, until they are sent to NAVELSG for training.
Upon arrival at NAVELSG, the sailors undergo a month of training in everything they need to know to operate in the USCENTCOM theater of operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. They are trained in the use of weapons, driving tactical vehicles, first aid, small unit tactics, and the procedures and standards required of items and personnel re-entering the United States from overseas. Upon completion of training, they are certified as Customs Border Clearance Agents, with the authority to carry out customs inspection on equipment and personnel within USCENTCOM only.
Upon arrival in the theater of operations, all personnel check in with the US Army Personnel Support Battalion located at the Army Life Support Area (ALSA), Ali Al Salem, Kuwait. From there, each company then heads to its base of operations, either at Camp Arifjan
, Kuwait, the Kuwait Naval Base, Ali Al Salem
, and Camp Beuhring, Camp Virginia or they stay at ALSA for further training before deploying to Balad
, Iraq
.
During their deployment, a customs mission will examine the baggage of approximately 226,000 passengers (nearly half a million bags), inspect 5,000 - 15,000 vehicles and aircraft, 50,000 - 150,000 pieces of equipment and 20,000 - 40,000 containers. Sailors usually deploy for these missions for approximately eight to nine months in country. The first two weeks of their time in country is spent settling into their new homes, and performing training and gaining qualifications that could not be performed in the United States.
To date, there have been eleven Customs Battalions, with NAVELSG Forward MIKE currently in theater. They are:
Navy Customs Battalion Oscar
Navy Customs Battalion Papa
Navy Customs Battalion Quebec
Navy Customs Battalion Romeo
Navy Customs Battalion Sierra
Navy Customs Battalion Tango
NAVELSG FWD HOTEL
NAVELSG FWD INDIA
NAVELSG FWD JULIET
NAVELSG FWD KILO (deployed as of December 2009)
NAVELSG FWD LIMA (deployed as of July 2010)
NAVELSG FWD MIKE
The Navy Customs mission is detailed by Navy Reserves and augmented by active duty navy, they are mobilized for a period of 240 days. Upon receipt of orders for mobilization
Mobilization
Mobilization is the act of assembling and making both troops and supplies ready for war. The word mobilization was first used, in a military context, in order to describe the preparation of the Prussian army during the 1850s and 1860s. Mobilization theories and techniques have continuously changed...
, the reserve members report to a Navy Mobilization Processing Site for processing and screening to ensure they are fit for duty, and have no issues that will preclude them from carrying out their primary mission. This process usually takes approximately two weeks from when they report in, until they are sent to NAVELSG for training.
Upon arrival at NAVELSG, the sailors undergo a month of training in everything they need to know to operate in the USCENTCOM theater of operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. They are trained in the use of weapons, driving tactical vehicles, first aid, small unit tactics, and the procedures and standards required of items and personnel re-entering the United States from overseas. Upon completion of training, they are certified as Customs Border Clearance Agents, with the authority to carry out customs inspection on equipment and personnel within USCENTCOM only.
Upon arrival in the theater of operations, all personnel check in with the US Army Personnel Support Battalion located at the Army Life Support Area (ALSA), Ali Al Salem, Kuwait. From there, each company then heads to its base of operations, either at Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan
Camp Arifjan is an Army installation located in the State of Kuwait which accommodates elements of the US Air Force, US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard. The camp was funded and built by the government of Kuwait. Military personnel from the United Kingdom, Australia, Romania and Poland are...
, Kuwait, the Kuwait Naval Base, Ali Al Salem
Ali Al Salem Air Base
Ali Al Salem Air Base is a military airbase situated in Kuwait, approximately 23 miles from the Iraqi border. The airfield is owned by the Government of Kuwait, and during Operation Southern Watch and Operation Telic / Operation Iraqi Freedom hosted Royal Air Force , United States Air Force and...
, and Camp Beuhring, Camp Virginia or they stay at ALSA for further training before deploying to Balad
Balad
Al-Balad is the historical area of Jeddah, the second largest city of Saudi Arabia. Balad can literally be translated as "The City." Balad is the historic center of the City of Jeddah. Balad traces its history 2,500 years back as a fishing village when the Quda'a fishermen tribe settled...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
During their deployment, a customs mission will examine the baggage of approximately 226,000 passengers (nearly half a million bags), inspect 5,000 - 15,000 vehicles and aircraft, 50,000 - 150,000 pieces of equipment and 20,000 - 40,000 containers. Sailors usually deploy for these missions for approximately eight to nine months in country. The first two weeks of their time in country is spent settling into their new homes, and performing training and gaining qualifications that could not be performed in the United States.
To date, there have been eleven Customs Battalions, with NAVELSG Forward MIKE currently in theater. They are:
Navy Customs Battalion Oscar
Navy Customs Battalion Papa
Navy Customs Battalion Quebec
Navy Customs Battalion Romeo
Navy Customs Battalion Sierra
Navy Customs Battalion Tango
NAVELSG FWD HOTEL
NAVELSG FWD INDIA
NAVELSG FWD JULIET
NAVELSG FWD KILO (deployed as of December 2009)
NAVELSG FWD LIMA (deployed as of July 2010)
NAVELSG FWD MIKE