JTF North Engineer Division: Building Leaders and Refining Skills Along the Southwest Border.

摘要

For more than 20 years, the Joint Task Force (JTF) North Engineer Division has assisted volunteer engineer units with lighting and fence-building operations and construction of roads and bridges along the border between Mexico and the United States in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The units, typically platoon-size elements, conduct 30- to 45-day missions in austere environments, similar to those found in the U.S. Army Central Command's area of responsibility, to increase the U.S. Border Patrol's ability to interdict transnational threats such as international terrorism, narcotics trafficking, illegal alien smuggling, and other activities that threaten homeland security. The opportunities JTF North missions provide to develop leadership skills and military occupational specialty (MOS) proficiency are rarely available at home station due to training area restrictions, lack of resources, and a variety of training distractions. During a JTF North engineer support mission, a deployed unit will execute a real-world engineer operation in an environment in which distractions are minimal, the terrain is often complex, standing rules on the use of force are strictly observed, and mission funds are readily available. (JTF North funds most mission-related requirements, and the supported agencies pay for all material costs.) Although training away from the flagpole can be difficult, the JTF North missions present units with challenges they may face during future deployments on overseas contingency operations.