Operation Jump Start

Operation Jump Start
	Air National Guardsmenconstruct a fence along the Mexican border in 2007
Date	2006– July 15th 2008
Location	Mexico–United States border
Participants	United States National Guard
Outcome	Successful operation (See below)

Operation Jump Startwas amilitary operationto aidU.S. Customs and Border Protection,announced by PresidentGeorge W. Bushin May 2006. The mission entailed the deployment ofUnited States National Guardtroops along theMexico–United States borderfor purposes of enforcement of border security and construction of a border fence. The rules of deployment were defined in amemorandum of agreementbetween officials in theDepartment of Defenseand the governors ofArizona,California,New Mexico,Texas,andMexico.

National Guard members involved in the operation were not involved inlaw enforcementactivities due to the political and moral aspect of using troops on the U.S./Mexico border. They were supporting theU.S. Customs and Border ProtectionandU.S. Border Patrolagencies with administrative, observational and intelligence gathering capacities, and civil engineering projects. By temporarily taking over these functions from the USC&BP, they freed up sworn agents to field units.

Military operations with Operation Jump Start were primarily to observe and report.^[1]Therules of engagementfor the operation were very restrictive and only allowed escalation to lethality when met with an equal amount of force from another. The National Guard set up entry identification team sites to spot undocumented aliens. Many of the areas of operation were in desolate locations; some locations were so remote that troops were flown in byUH-60helicopters.

Statistical summary[edit]

On 15 July 2008, Operation Jump Start came to an end. At its peak there were as many as 6,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen on the mission with more than 29,000 from every state and territory. During the operation:

More than 176,000illegal alienswere apprehended^[1]
More than 1,100 vehicles were seized
More than 321,000 pounds (146,000 kg) of marijuana and cocaine were seized
More than 28,000 hours of flight time were logged by National Guard pilots
More than 19 miles (31 km) of road, 38 miles (61 km) of fencing and 96 miles (154 km) of vehicle barriers were built
Close to 720 miles (1,160 km) of road were repaired.

Service medal[edit]

In 2008, theArmed Forces Service Medalwas authorized forNational Guardforces deployed toTexas,New Mexico,ArizonaandCaliforniato assist theDepartment of Homeland Securitywith securing the southwest U.S. border.

External links[edit]

References[edit]

^^a ^bUS National, Guard (2019)."Operation Jump Start"(PDF).

[:0-1] US National, Guard (2019)."Operation Jump Start"(PDF).

[1]