Story by Captain Leyda Ocasio-Kanzler, Joint Task Force - Guardian Support Public Affairs Officer
MCALLEN, Texas – Members of the Georgia Army National Guard deployed as part of Joint Task Force- Guardian Support to form Task Force Volunteer in support of United States Customs and Border Protection.
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brian Tritten shakes hands with Georgia Army National Guard Capt. Guy Serapion at the U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector Headquarters, Edinburg, Texas, Nov. 1, 2019. (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. De’Jon Williams)
Task Force Volunteer is the fifth task force to join Joint Task Force- Guardian Support since its inception in April 2018.
Task Force Volunteer conducted pre-mobilization deployment training at Fort Stewart, Georgia. They assumed responsibility for the mission upon the transfer of authority from the 317th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Rio Grande Valley Sector assistant chief patrol agent Vaughn Horne speaks to National Guard members at the U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector Headquarters, Edinburg, Texas, Nov. 1, 2019. (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. De’Jon Williams)
The mission of Task Force Volunteer is to work alongside our law enforcement partners to enhance security efforts by serving as a force multiplier enabling our partners to better provide the necessary manpower to deliver frontline law enforcement.
Georgia National Guard 1st Lt. Ashton Griffith serves as the Task Force Volunteer executive officer. He, answered the call to be a part of JTF-GS while on a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.
“This is a great opportunity not only for myself but for my soldiers as well,” said Griffith. “Everyone is excited to do this mission.”
Georgia Army National Guard Capt. Guy Serapion briefs National Guard and U.S. Border Patrol members at the U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector Headquarters, Edinburg, Texas, Nov. 1, 2019. (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. De’Jon Williams)
This partnership between Georgia and Texas offers Guardsmen and women a chance to not only work together, but it also provides an opportunity for them to understand how federal law enforcement works and potentially pursue a civilian career with U.S. Border Patrol.
“This mission was something to help further their career,” said Griffith. “They’ll also have the time to learn more about the military and how we can work with Texas and the border patrol.”
National Guardsmen and U.S. Border Patrol Agents discuss the transfer of authority responsibilities at the U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector Headquarters, Edinburg, Texas, Nov. 1, 2019. (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. De’Jon Williams)
The unique skills and resources that the Georgia National Guard provides will continue the mission to provide civil support with ground and aerial forces supporting USCBP to enhance the Department of Homeland Security in the five USCBP five sector in Texas.
The Texas National Guard stands ready to serve Texas and the United States with partnerships like these.