Operation Border Support

In early 2002 hundreds of National Guard soldiers from units throughout Arizona, New Mexico and Texas used Fort Bliss, Texas, for Soldier Readiness Processing [SRP] as part of their current mission, Operation Border Support. The mission of OBS is to provide additional homeland security to ports of entry into the United States on both northern and southern borders. About 400 soldiers were activated from Texas, about 200 from Arizona and about 20 from New Mexico. The soldiers aid Border Patrol agencies in search and seizure procedures, in search of any illegal action at the borders. They will act much like our gate guards here, performing tasks that are required upon entry to the US. The soldiers arrived at Fort Bliss in three main groups. The first group to arrive was the command and control element, also referred to as the "facilitators." The second and third groups to arrive will be those assisting the Immigration and Naturalization Services, Border Patrol and U.S. Customs. Breaking them up into three smaller groups helped make the transition a little more smooth. Assisting with the SRP was 380th CONUS Replacement Battalion, out of Bothell, Wash. The Army Reserve unit performed the mission as part of their annual training and had the date of training moved specifically so they could help out. After soldiers with Operation Border Support complete the SRP, they will move on to their designated places of duty along the border.