New Mexico Minuteman - Fall 2011
New Mexico Minuteman - Fall 2011 New Mexico Minuteman - Fall 2011
Engineers conduct AT on the border By 2nd Lt. Ernest B. Carlson IV, 2nd Detachment, 920th Engineer Company The New Mexico National Guard’s 920th Engineer Company conducted road and fence repair missions for the U.S. Border Patrol as part of their 2011 annual training. The training began July 11, 2011, and was composed of three rotations that worked day in and day out to complete the missions handed down. Soldiers from Rio Rancho, Hobbs and Carlsbad traveled in large convoys with heavy construction equipment to a small farm owned by Bill Johnson, who was contracted to supply the Soldiers of the 920th with meals and lodging. The unit had two missions—the fi rst was to knock out some low water crossings right on the border road. The second was to move the border fence to more stable ground and weld it back in place. The low water crossings were V-shaped concrete slabs that were completely ineffective. The Soldiers installed water culverts to both raise the road and allow water to pass without dead-lining the road after a heavy rain. The 920th rebuilt a total of seven water crossings. This accomplishment was an amazing achievement for the unit due to the fact that the rock quarry was an hour away from the project site. The dump truck operators had a two-and-a-half- to three-hour turnaround depending on the weather. It was because of the hustle of the lower enlisted that the water crossing mission was so successful. 6 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Fall 2011 The second task was to move the border fence to more stable ground. The existing fence had either sunk into the ground over time or was damaged by individuals determined to get across with vehicles. The Soldiers used a HYEX to lift the sections of fence that resemble Normandy barriers onto the lip of the border road in order to keep it from eroding into the ground. Once they set the fence into place, the Soldiers welded it back together, while making sure that individuals trying to break through the fence would have to redefi ne their dedication if they wished to be successful in breaching the new fence. The Border Patrol was pleased with the completion of both missions. Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, the Adjutant General, Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Adair, the state command sergeant major, Col. Mark Arellano, counterdrug coordinator, and Chief Warrant Offi cer Lawrence Jiron, director of information management and recruit sustainment program commander, visited the working sites and boosted the Soldiers’ morale. The Soldiers were briefed by Montoya and Adair, and a few Soldiers were awarded coins for their performances which were “Beyond the Standard.”
Fall 2011 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 7
- Page 1: 150th Fighter Wing moves forward wi
- Page 4 and 5: 150th Fighter Wing moves forward wi
- Page 6 and 7: 226th Military Police Battalion tra
- Page 10 and 11: New Mexico National Guard team comp
- Page 12 and 13: 111th MEB hosts Bataan Liberation P
- Page 14 and 15: B Co., 1st Bn. races away with TAG
- Page 16 and 17: Joining the offi cer ranks Six cand
- Page 18 and 19: By Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera, State
- Page 20 and 21: 1116th Transportation Company 1116t
- Page 22 and 23: 20 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Fall 2011
- Page 24 and 25: 150th Fighter Wing honors their hom
- Page 26 and 27: NEWS BRIEFS The NMNG welcomes a new
- Page 28 and 29: CAMP DEFY aims to keep children out
- Page 30 and 31: By Sgt. Suzanna Dominguez, State Pu
- Page 32: 30 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Fall 2011
<strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2011</strong> / NEW MEXICO National Guard 7
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