MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- Marines from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., arrived in Yuma, Ariz. Feb. 6 ready to beef up the nation’s border protection as part of Joint Task Force North.
Since then, a platoon of engineers from the 8th Engineer Support Battalion has been focused on constructing two miles of border roads and one mile of fencing on the east side of the San Luis, Ariz., port of entry.
In response to a request for assistance submitted by the Yuma sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, JTF North, the Department of Defense agency responsible for providing homeland security support to the nation’s federal law enforcement agencies, has deployed two military engineer units to Yuma, to execute two border engineer support missions, stated Armando Carrasco, JTF North public affairs officer.
The U.S. Army engineers of the 642nd Engineer Support Company also arrived Feb. 6 and are working on a stretch of land west of the San Luis port of entry.
The military’s mission is not to police the border, but to complete its construction projects by the end of March.
“Our focus is to build the fence,” said Sgt. Damian Rodriguez, 8th ESB combat engineer. “We don’t have time to be chasing down illegals. We have the Border Patrol for that. We have radios if we need to alert the Border Patrol of some suspicious activity, but nine times out of ten, they’re so close we don’t even need the radios.”
The U.S. Border Patrol has more to worry about than catching illegal immigrants as long as the engineers are on the border.
“The Border Patrol’s job is to protect the engineers,” said Ron Colburn, U.S. Border Patrol Yuma Sector Chief. “There are Border Patrol units hovering nearby whenever military engineers are working.”
The Marines were called in for this job for a variety of reasons.
“It’s a win-win situation,” said Army Col. Steve Baker, engineer mission planner.
“The Army and Marine Corps are providing a service and a product for border protection against transnational threats while they receive technical training.”
“By bolstering the border of the Barry M. Goldwater Range, we also support the Marine Corps Air Station pre-deployment exercises,” said Colburn.
In addition to the completion of the project and the training received by the soldiers and Marines, the cost for such a project goes down dramatically because labor costs are non-existent.
“The military helps to literally cut the cost to the government in half,” explained Colburn.
After the Marines rid themselves of jetlag and learned about the new equipment they would be using during their deployment, things started rolling.
“We had a rough start, but things are going well now,” said 1st Lt. Donnie Fricks, 8th ESB platoon commander. “The guys are learning small unit leadership skills and how to adapt and overcome out here. They are learning that things aren’t always going to be ideal in a deployed environment. That’s one of the best things we can take away from our time spent out here.
“We’re trying to be more efficient every day we come out, while still maintaining a safe atmosphere,” explained Fricks, a native of Pasadena, Texas. “Our teams keep accomplishing more than what I ask of them and they continue to exceed expectations.”
Some Marines attribute their swift pace to the teamwork taking place between the military branches.
“The Army has some hard workers. We’ve got some of their welders who are making things go fast. We’re broken down into three sections,” said Rodriguez. “We have a trench crew, a crew that erects the actual fence and a panel crew.”
“On a good day, we can put up 80 to 100 feet of fence,” added the Newark, N.Y., native.
The Marines are erecting the wall quickly, said Rodriguez, despite being out of their element.
“Building is our job field, but we are a bridge company, so this is considered cross training,” he explained.
Some of the younger Marines are getting familiarized with equipment they haven’t operated before.
“I’ve built fences before, but nothing on this large of a scale,” said Pfc. Daniel Royal, 8th ESB combat engineer. “I’ve been operating the man lift (machine). We wouldn’t use it for building bridges. None of this really compares to what we usually do.”
One of the benefits that brings many units to Yuma is the climate.
“I got back from Kuwait five months ago. This environment is almost identical to what it is over there,” said Rodriguez. “It’s good for the younger Marines so that they know what they can expect.”
Some Marines are just happy to get out, see the country and do what they signed up to do.
“It’s good to get a change of scenery,” said Royal, a Savannah, Ga., native. “It’s nice to get away from what I’m used to. My wife isn’t too happy, but she understands.
“I think what we’re doing is a good thing. I’m not against immigration, but some people who cross over illegally ruin it for the people trying to do it the right way,” he explained. “We’re here to protect America, and that’s why I signed up.”